Chechen Republic of Ichkeria’s Head of Government in Exile Akhmed Zakayev Visits Kharkiv

The Chechen politician and statesman visited Kharkiv, the town near the frontline, to meet with local authorities and representatives of the region’s defence forces.

The Chechen people have a deep memory of the deportation of their people organised by Stalin in the 1940s. They have also not forgotten Grozny’s destruction and levelling under Boris Yeltsin’s leadership, and today they face the brutal rule of Ramzan Kadyrov.

That is why this nation is standing together with Ukrainians to win. Chechen volunteers are dedicated and ideologically conscious people who are fighting for Ukraine.

With the Prime Minister of independent Ichkeria in exile, Akhmed Alviev, the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria’s representative in Ukraine, also came to Kharkiv.

“Our goal is to visit our fighters who are in this region. Of course, we came here to meet them at the suggestion of our friend, the garrison commander, to establish cooperation between our and Ukrainian military. We were also fortunate enough to meet with the mayor and discuss issues related to the further stay of our units here in Kharkiv region and in Kharkiv in particular,” Akhmed Zakayev commented to Gwara Media on his visit to Kharkiv.

Hundreds of Chechens are fighting on Ukraine’s side

• The Sheikh Mansur Volunteer Battalion has been fighting the occupiers in Donbas since 2014. The unit was founded in October 2014 in Denmark. It was initiated by the socio-political movement Free Caucasus. It was named after Sheikh Mansur, a leader of the Caucasian highlanders in the late 18th century.
• A little earlier that year, the Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion was created. This volunteer military unit is actively involved in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. It consists mainly of Chechens who were forced to leave their homeland and now live in Western Europe. However, the battalion also includes Ukrainians, Russians, Ingush, Azeris, Tatars and other representatives of various nationalities. The battalion was named after Dzhokhar Dudayev, the first president of Ichkeria, which was the Chechen Republic. At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, it became part of the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine.
• The 34th Assault Battalion “Shalena Zgraya” is a military unit consisting of Chechen volunteers and Ukrainian soldiers, part of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was founded in 2014 during the fighting in Donbas. Since then, the battalion has been commanded by Chechen volunteer Kazbek Abdurzakov (call sign Dzurdzuk).
• The Khamzat Gelayev Battalion is a volunteer military unit involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The battalion was named after the famous Chechen commander killed in 2004 during a clash with Russian border troops.
• In July 2022, it became known that a Special Forces Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (ChRI) was created within the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the Foreign Legion. Currently, five Chechen battalions are fighting for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Verkhovna Rada declared Ichkeria occupied by Russia and condemned the genocide of Chechens in October 2022

“The Rada supported the recognition of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and the condemnation of the genocide of the Chechen people,” said Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of the Voice party.

287 MPs voted for the resolution.

The document states that the Ukrainian Parliament takes into account the proclamation of the declaration of state sovereignty of Chechnya (Nochchiychoy) by the National Congress of the Chechen people on 25 November 1990, based on the exercise by the Chechen people of their right to self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter, as well as the declaration of independence by the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria after the collapse of the USSR on 12 March 1992.

See also

• Olena Zelenska Foundation and UAE to rebuild family house in Kharkiv Oblast. Childhood Address project, international investors, and the state will restore housing for family-type children’s homes for those who lost their places during the full-scale invasion.