Russia's Chechen military unit inducts 3,000 lethal ex-Wagner mercenaries for the war against Ukraine.

The Chechen military unit has inducted a formidable contingent of 3,000 former mercenaries from the disbanded Wagner Group. This move, orchestrated by the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, is poised to bring a new level of intensity to the battlefield.

The Wagner Group, a private military company with a controversial track record, had previously played a pivotal role in the capture of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut) in the Donbass region last May. However, following a mutiny led by its chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who later died in a plane crash, the Russian government disbanded Wagner's base in southern Russia, leading to the surrender of a significant cache of weaponry.

The induction ceremony was marked by a video release in which Kadyrov, alongside the renowned Wagner commander known as 'Ratibor', confirmed the new additions to the Chechen forces. The newly formed regiment, approved by the Russian Defense Ministry, will be commanded by 'Ratibor', who has been granted the authority to select its personnel.

Kadyrov hailed this strategic move as a testament to the "brilliant skills" and "rich experience" of the ex-Wagner fighters. Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the Akhmat battalion, emphasized that these seasoned mercenaries are expected to commence combat tasks soon, bolstering the Chechen unit's capabilities on the frontlines.