Russian President Lauds Chechnyan Troops Readying For Ukraine Battle During Surprise Visit: 'As Long As We Have Men Like You, We Are Absolutely, Absolutely Invincible'

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov inspected Chechen troops preparing for a confrontation with Ukraine, as announced by the Kremlin on Tuesday. This event marks Putin’s first visit to the North Caucasus republic in over a decade.

What Happened: The unexpected visit comes amid Russia’s efforts to drive out Ukrainian forces from its Kursk region, following Ukraine’s largest invasion of Russia since the Second World War two weeks ago, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

During his visit to the Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes, Chechnya, Putin addressed the troops, stating, “As long as we have men like you, we are absolutely, absolutely invincible,” according to the Kremlin’s website transcript.

Despite the foreign occupation of Russian territory being a source of embarrassment for Putin and his army, Russian forces continue to make steady progress on the eastern Ukraine frontline. Kadyrov, who has often referred to himself as Putin’s “foot soldier,” informed Putin that Chechnya had sent over 47,000 troops to fight Ukraine since the war began, including approximately 19,000 volunteers.

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Why It Matters: The recent events follow a series of incidents that have escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine. On August 13, Putin accused Ukraine of launching a major attack on Russian territory, allegedly to strengthen its position in potential peace talks, leading to the evacuation of 180,000 people from the Kursk region. This aggressive move by Ukraine led to further territorial gains, described by U.S. President Joe Biden as a "real dilemma" for Putin.

Furthermore, recently Kadyrov unveiled a Tesla Cybertruck equipped with a machine gun, hinting at the potential use of the electric vehicle in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Elon Musk later denied allegations that he had donated the Cybertruck.

These developments underscore the escalating tensions in the region and the potential for further conflict.

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Photo by Frederic Legrand – COMEO on Shutterstock

This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari