The Kremlin is reportedly scrambling to find a successor to Ramzan Kadyrov following reports that the Chechen leader has been diagnosed with necrotizing pancreatitis, a terminal illness, according to Russian media.
Kadyrov, also known as “PoutinePutin’s attack dog or “Putin’s Soldier” for his loyalty to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has regularly visited Moscow’s Central Clinical Hospital over the years to undergo procedures. He was reportedly diagnosed with the disease five years ago.
Last year, Ukrainian intelligence services highlighted Kadyrov’s poor health, noting that he was in a coma.
“There is information that the war criminal Kadyrov is in serious condition and the illnesses that were there have worsened and caused a very serious condition,” said Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukrainian military intelligence. Former Deputy Prime Minister of Chechnya Akhmad Zakayev also previously said he was ill.
He overdosed last year on a pre-operative sedative, causing acute lung failure, according to New Gazeta.
‘Putin’s Foot Soldier’ Releases Cringy Training Video to Prove He’s Not Dying
News of Kadyrov’s terminal illness would be a “source of concern” for the Kremlin, as Putin seeks to strengthen Russian influence and control in Chechnya in the coming years, which has been a goal of Moscow for years. decades.
In 1991, Chechnya’s president, Dzhokhar Dudayev, declared independence, but Moscow rebuffed it for fear it could prompt other provinces to break away from Russia. In 1994, Russia invaded Chechnya in an attempt to keep it under its control. Five years later, Putin destroyed Chechnya’s capital, Grozny, killing tens of thousands of civilians.
Putin’s operation in Chechnya – where he claimed he was simply carrying out counter-terrorism operations – led to comparisons of Moscow’s strategy to the war in Ukraine.
The loss of the Kremlin’s loyal foot soldier, however, could have a direct impact on domestic support for the war. Kadyrov sent soldiers to fight for Russia in Ukraine. He has also been a staunch defender of Putin in Russia, supporting the idea of limiting candidates for elections and swearing loyalty to the Russian president in the face of Wagner’s March on Moscow.
A potential successor could be Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Chechen Special Forces Volunteer Association, who previously worked as a deputy in the Main Directorate of Military and Political Work of the Defense Ministry. Alaudinov was personally appointed to the position by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Some Chechens have already expressed their disapproval of Putin and his war in Ukraine. When the war broke out, some Chechens even joined the front-line battalions to help Ukraine repel the Russian invasion. In return, some Ukrainians vowed to fight for a free Chechnya once the war ended.
Kadyrov sought to throw cold water on his terminal illness. He posted a video of himself working out on Tuesday, as if to signal that his diagnosis isn’t holding him back. The Kremlin has already worked to spread the message that Kadyrov is in good health.
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