MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Is Chechen kill squad hunting Zelenskyy? Jihadists reportedly tracking Ukraine officials

Each soldier in the Chechen Special Forces was given a 'deck of cards' with the photos of targetted Ukrainian officials on them

As Ukrainian soldiers and citizens display unprecedented bravery to thwart the Russian invasion in their country, reports have surfaced that Putin is now unleashing a secret 'kill squad' to hunt down the country's top officials. The Chechen Special Forces, formed under the leadership of Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov, is a secret force operational in the Chechnya region of Russia. Notorious for their brutalities, the Chechen Special Forces mostly comprise Jihadist fighters. 

Shocking photos and videos have emerged online which shows the Chechen Special Forces brazenly marching into Ukraine armed with heavy artillery and weapons. Insider reports reveal that each soldier in the battalion was given a "deck of cards" with the photos of targetted Ukrainian officials on them. The 'deck' mentions top Ukraine government officials and security personnel who is suspected of 'crimes' by the Russian Investigative Committee. The news about the Chechen Forces surfaced barely hours after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that he and his family are Putin's prime targets at the moment. 

READ MORE

Russia launches Ukraine offensive with missile strikes, here's what it means for USA

Tragic human cost of Russian invasion of Ukraine laid bare as heartbreaking visuals emerge

The Kadyrovtsy was formed in 1994 as a separatist militia under the leadership of Ramzan Kadyrov's father Akhmad Kadyrov. At that time, they fought the Russian Armed Forces in the First Chechen War using guerilla warfare and Jihadi war tactics. After Akhmad Kadyrov's assassination in 2004, his son Ramzan assumed power in Chechnya. 

In 2006, under Ramzan's regime, the Kadyrovtsy were legalized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The army has sparked global criticism for their gross violation of human rights with abduction, torture, and murder of enemy forces. Feared by civilians in Chechnya and across Russia, the special forces are now joining hands with Putin to unleash horror in Ukraine. 

At present, the Chechen squad is believed to be stationed in the forests of Ukraine, waiting to unleash their brutal operations. In fact, they have been given a direct "order to kill" in case the targetted officials resist detainment. Putin has identified many top Ukrainian leaders as 'Nazis' and previously shared his goal to "de-Nazify" the East European country. 

Photos and videos show the Jihadist fighters offering Namaz on the grounds of the forest as they gear up to go into battle. Meanwhile, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, 45, has visited his forces and also met with Viktor Zolotov, Director of the Federal National Guard Service and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian National Guard Forces. 

Global leaders and security experts have expressed deep concerns at the news of Chechen 'hunters' being deployed into the Ukraine war. "Chechen Muslim fighters are known even among the hardest jihadists to be seriously battle-hardened," noted British counter-extremism activist Maajid Nawaz. 

International Conflict Observers Forum shared a chilling video of Chechen militia marching onto Ukraine soil via Belarus. "#Breaking: Another battalion of 'Kadyrovtsy' chechen special forces preparing to enter Ukraine via Belarus."

An unverified news source claimed, "An audio message is currently making the rounds, a person claiming to be a member of chechen special forces declares he has no beef with ukrainian soldiers & promises they will be treated with dignity if they surrender, "but we have questions for azov. we really care about them."

One user tweeted, "Chechen special forces 'hunters' are unleashed in Ukraine by Putin. This madness is getting worst. Where is NATO Forces? Ukraine is in an unenviable position. NATO will not intervene to defend Ukrainian borders; and they signaled a green light to Putin effectively."