Kadyrov boasts of killing Ukrainian prisoners of war and using them as human shields

After a drone strike set fire to buildings on the Russian Special Forces University campus near the Chechen town of Gudermes on Tuesday, October 29, Ramzan Kadyrov, after initially claiming the building was empty, said it was housing Ukrainian prisoners of war were (prisoners of war) who were killed in the attack.

Kadyrov suspected the attack was carried out by Ukrainian forces, although international commentators said there was strong evidence that it was carried out by Dagestan irregulars as a “continuation of an earlier confrontation with Chechen forces.”

On October 24, unknown gunmen carried out an attack on a Ural truck carrying Russian National Guard Rosgvardia personnel near the Chechen village of Petropavlovskaya. This was believed to be related to Kadyrov declaring a so-called “blood feud” against three politicians from neighboring Dagestan and Ingushetia.

When asked why he thought the university was attacked, Kadyrov said it was obvious: “The training center is a forge of highly effective fighters who successfully apply their skills in the most difficult sections of the front.” They have the merit of hundreds to capture important strategic settlements, facilities and borders [in Ukraine].”

Kadyrov was quoted by Russian media as saying, without providing evidence, “… there are no casualties on our side as a result of the attack.” But there were among the Ukrainian prisoners of war. To harm us, Kyiv killed its own soldiers.”

He continued: “From now on, Ukraine must recognize that such attacks primarily harm its own citizens,” adding: “Up to ten Ukrainian prisoners of war are held in each strategic facility.” [Chechnya]including the Russian Special Forces University.”

He compounded his statements, which if true would be considered war crimes, by claiming that he had ordered all Chechen units fighting for Russia in Ukraine to no longer accept the surrender of Ukrainian soldiers “I have ordered my commanders fighting on the front lines in Ukraine to take no prisoners.” They added that they should “…kill all enemy forces and increase fighting.”

Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, more than 100 cases of Russian troops executing Ukrainian prisoners have been documented, although Ukrainian authorities believe the actual number of such killings is much higher, as many incidents occur without solid evidence.

In January, Kadyrov reportedly published a list containing the names of 20 Ukrainian prisoners of war “captured in Donetsk and Luhansk” that he agreed to release in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions on their family members.