After the withdrawal of Russian troops from the embattled town of Lyman, Putin’s henchman and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov sharply criticized the military operation. On his Telegram channel, he openly expresses his displeasure with the conditions on the Russian front. The fighters sent were “not equipped with the necessary communication, interaction and ammunition supply.” He had already received a message from a major general two weeks ago “that our fighters could become easy targets,” Kadyrov continued.
The President of the Chechen Republic is considered a Putin loyalist and has long been nicknamed the “Bloodhound” by the Kremlin. Kadyrov also demands that the responsible Colonel-General Alexander Lapin be deposed, demoted and sent to the front as a simple soldier. The problems in Lyman were reported two weeks ago.
“A week later, Lapin transfers his staff to Starobilsk, more than 100 kilometers from his subordinates, and slips away to Luhansk himself. How can you operationally command your units when you are 150 kilometers away,” Kadyrov says indignantly.
He also speaks openly of the dubious job-haggling in the Russian military: “There is no place for nepotism in the army, especially in difficult times.”
Only on Friday did Russian President Vladimir Putin annex four areas around Zaporizhia, Cherson, Luhansk and Donetsk in violation of international law. Previously, mock referendums had been held, in which the residents were forced to vote, sometimes with military force. Kadyrov also acknowledged this in his message: “Donetsk is still being shelled. The residents of the annexed four areas want to be protected.”
His response to the Ukrainian attacks: “Personally, I believe that we must take more drastic measures, up to and including the imposition of martial law in the border areas and the use of low-yield nuclear weapons.” Vladimir Putin expected.
Kadyrov is not alone in criticizing the actions of the Russian army. The Russian political scientist Abbas Galliamov, who is critical of the Kremlin, explained smugly: “Yesterday they connected Lyman to Russia “forever” in order to evacuate (the city) today”.
Since the beginning of the week, four leaks have been found in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines off the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm. NATO assumes sabotage, is reluctant to assign blame, but threatens to react decisively. What could that look like?
After the sham referendums in the occupied Ukrainian territories on accession to Russia, which were criticized as a breach of international law, the annexation is formally sealed. What does this mean for war?
Reports of problems and arbitrariness in the so-called partial mobilization in Russia are increasing. DW learned from Russians and human rights activists what violations those affected are struggling with.