The Economist: Ramzan Kadyrov says his republic has sent 70,000 men to fight in Ukraine, but Chechens make up just 0.2% of Russia’s confirmed war dead

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has asserted that his republic has sent 70,000 men to fight in Ukraine, but the actual casualty figures tell a different story. According to the most recent count of Russian military deaths compiled by independent Russian outlet Mediazona and the BBC, Chechens only account for 0.2% of the war dead. This is despite Chechnya making up 1.1% of Russia's population, which is five times its share in the war dead.

Kadyrov has previously claimed that Chechen special forces are "literally burning with the desire to carry out highly complex orders," but in practice, these fighters are often not near the front line. The Chechen authorities reportedly approve of this, as it allows them to appear to be participating in the war without overextending their forces.

To protect Chechnya's population from forced mobilization, Kadyrov has intensified repression against vulnerable groups, including gay people, those with alcohol dependency, and relatives of Chechen opposition figures. This strategy also helps Kadyrov maintain his image as the "father of the nation."