Turmoil between Wagner and Chechen forces

Earlier this week, forces of the Russian private security group Wagner began withdrawing from the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region to make way for General Ramzan Kadyrov's Chechen forces.

In a statement on the Telegram channel, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin "dumped cold water" on the Chechen forces, saying that it was difficult for them to control the entire Donetsk province. Moscow announced the annexation of the province it calls the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) into Russia, but does not yet control the entire territory.

“I think they have enough force to liberate many towns and villages in the DPR, but it is difficult to liberate all of them. They will only control certain areas,” Prigozhin said of Chechen forces.

Leader Wagner's comments immediately caused a wave of anger among Chechnya loyalists, including longtime ally Adam Delimkhanov.

“You do not understand and need not understand, Yevgeny. You can contact me at any time and tell me where we can meet, let me explain anything that you don't know," Delimkhanov said in a video posted on Telegram.

Magomed Daudov, another Kadyrov loyalist, harshly criticized Prigozhin. “You don't need to know the details of our mission. Our commander knows enough,” he said.

Daudov also condemned Prigozhin's complaints to the Russian Defense Ministry. “Our soldiers have problems too, but that doesn't mean they have to shout about it. He always hinted in statements that someone needed to be shot. Sometimes I don't understand what he wants to achieve with those daily comments," he said, accusing Prigozhin of sowing "panic among the people".

"Don't forget to whom you have your own military company, planes, helicopters and many other things," Daudov said. “Send me your location. Anytime and anywhere, we will meet and talk frankly like men."

Kadyrov became the leader of the Russian Republic of Chechnya in 2007. Like Prigozhin, he often describes himself as a staunch loyalist to Mr. Putin.

In the very first months of Russia's campaign in Ukraine, Kadyrov tried to promote the Chechens as the core of Russia. Two days after the operation began, he announced that his forces were on the front lines.

Since then, Kadyrov has continuously posted on social media updates and videos about Chechen soldiers participating in a number of combat and humanitarian operations in Ukraine, as well as the combat achievements of his forces. Russia.

This is not the first time Chechen forces have been deployed to conflicts in which the Russian military is involved. They participated in the 2008 conflict in Georgia and the war in Syria. Observers say that the deployment of Chechen fighters to Ukraine is an act of Kadyrov's loyalty to the Kremlin.

However, the image of Chechen forces has become more blurred as Wagner's role has been noticed since September last year, when Russian military units had to withdraw in the face of a Ukrainian counter-offensive. Wagner won a number of widely praised strides, making the force the center of attention on Russian television. That also helps Prigozhin increase his influence in the political world of the country.

Wagner then became increasingly evident in the campaign against Bakhmut. However, his criticism of the Russian military leadership has strained relations between the two sides.

Prigozhin criticized the Russian Defense Ministry for "stealing Wagner's victory", calling the Russian commanding officers "incompetent" and criticizing them for not providing ammunition for his forces. In the face of growing attacks from Prigozhin, the Russian military seems to want to reduce the influence of leader Wagner.

Deploying Chechen troops, which are part of the national guard but are directed by Kadyrov, could weaken Prigozhin's position both on the battlefield and in Russian society, according to observers.

The use of Kadyrov's forces to replace Wagner's troops could escalate the rivalry between the two military magnates, who last year joined forces to criticize the Russian Defense Ministry as the regular forces repeatedly failed in battle. efforts to strengthen the front line and give Ukrainian troops a significant advantage.

“The Kremlin may be trying to sever ties between Kadyrov and Prigozhin, as well as reassert the power of the Russian government through Chechen forces,” wrote an article by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) earlier this week. there is a paragraph.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said in February he wanted to "compete" with founder Wagner and set up his own private security company. “When my duty to the country is fulfilled, I seriously plan to compete with my brother Yevgeny Prigozhin and set up a private security company. I think everything will be fine,” he said.

In the midst of new tensions, a senior member of Wagner's team even repeated history to warn Chechen forces. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the First Chechen War took place between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Chechnya in 1994-1996, when the self-governing government in Chechnya declared independence and seceded this region from Russia.

Akhmad Kadyrov, Ramzan's father, fought against Moscow in this war. However, during the Second Chechen War of 2000-2009, Akhmad changed sides, sided with the Russian Federation and led to the establishment of a pro-Moscow government in Chechnya.

Dmitry Utkin, the Wagner commander who fought against Chechen forces in the First Chechen War, addressed the conflict in response to comments by supporters of the Chechen leadership.

“We are always ready to meet in person as we have known each other since the first and second Chechen wars,” he wrote on Telegram.

The rift within the Russian army comes as Ukraine plans to launch a major counter-offensive to regain Russian-controlled territories in the east and south of the country. The deployment of Chechen forces will mark their first return to the front lines in nearly a year.

According to General Kadyrov, Western and Ukrainian media "in the past few months have tried to intimidate by mentioning a scary counter-attack". “I want to inform you that we will not wait for the NATO and Ukraine counter-attack, instead the advance of Akhmat units will begin. We are tired of waiting,” said General Kadyrov.

Thanh Tam (Follow WSJ, Insider, Daily Beast)