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| Analysts assess combat training of Chechen Akhmat special forces and Akhmat-Chechnya unit |
| 2024-08-15 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [KavkazUzel] The combined battalion "Akhmat", commanded by Apti Alaudinov, is staffed with fighters from different regions, including volunteers and former "Wagnerites", military experts noted. The "Akhmat-Chechnya" unit, from which Alaudinov reported the capture of five fighters, is staffed by Chechens who were not prepared to participate in battles and are engaged in maintaining order, the Caucasus expert emphasized. As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", three signalmen and two riflemen of the "Akhmat-Chechnya" unit were captured in the Kursk region, the commander of the "Akhmat" special forces, Apti Alaudinov, said on August 13. He emphasized that the fighters captured were from the "Akhmat-Chechnya" unit, not the "Akhmat" special forces, and added that for a Chechen there is nothing more shameful than captivity. The day before, he called the reports of mass surrender of Chechen fighters "enemy propaganda". Military expert Alexander Khramchikhin reported that different units with the name "Akhmat" may differ in their level of training. "It is difficult to say who reports to whom and how. But it is obvious that they differ in their level of military training. Since 2022, "Akhmat" units have been formed from representatives of all regions of Russia," Khramchikhin told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. Military expert Vasily Dandykin emphasized that various units under the name "Akhmat" are staffed, in particular, by volunteers. "Volunteers from all regions of Russia serve in some units. But it was stated that not all those who wanted to could be provided with proper military training," he noted. Political scientist Ruslan Kutayev specified that the Akhmat water battalion, which Alaudinov commands, the so-called "Isa Army", is made up of Chechens to a lesser extent. This battalion belongs to the Russian Defense Ministry. "Along with this, there is the Akhmat unit. Only Chechens serve there. And they are not intended to participate in combat operations with regular troops. The guys who were captured are from it. In the Kursk region, they performed functions close to the police. Unlike the police, they do not have the right to investigative activities. Their task is to monitor order, so that there are no rallies or riots," Kutayev explained. Kutayev indicated that according to the information he has, "the combined battalion "Akhmat" is directly involved in military operations, on the front line. They have both assault aircraft and special forces. There are also former fighters of the PMC "Wagner". According to my information, there are 1% Chechens in this battalion," Kutayev said. Kutayev added that it is difficult to predict the logic of the Chechen authorities’ behavior towards prisoners after their release. "Caucasian Knot" wrote that on April 15, 2023, the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov reported that five Chechen fighters had returned to Grozny from Ukrainian captivity. He did not meet with them and criticized them. Human rights activists and orientalists interviewed by "Caucasian Knot" noted that captivity was not considered  something shameful or unacceptable in the Caucasus, and that adats do not regulate behavior in a war zone, since they apply only to people's everyday lives. On June 15 of the same year, it became known that five fighters of the Sever-Akhmat regiment, who had been previously released from Ukrainian captivity, were returned to the zone of the special military operation. They stated that they were ready to carry out any order. |
| Posted by:badanov |