Army within army: personal armed forces of Ramzan Kadyrov

Chechen troops are an integral part of the Russian Armed Forces. During the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war, Chechen formations played an elite role, leading the offensive and punching holes in Russia’s defense lines. The trend of some Chechen warriors to film their combat adventures and post them on TikTok has also given them the nickname “TikTok Troops”. In fact, Chechen forces seem to be doing a better job than most similar units in the Russian army. Although Chechen units are part of the National Guard and are therefore trained and equipped to deal with internal threats, they are mainly deployed to fight in Ukraine.

Focus He translated a recent article by Stein Mitzer and Just Olimans on what Ramzan Kadyrov’s personal army was armed with.

The modern Chechen Security Forces (SB) is a continuation of paramilitary forces loyal to the Chechen separatist leader, who was assassinated in 2004 and was succeeded by his son Ramzan Kadyrov, and later to President Akhmat Kadyrov. They are not related to the scattered Vostok and Zapad battalions led by the Yamadayev brothers, who were killed during the power struggle between Yamadayev and Kadyrov. In 2006, most of the Chechen forces loyal to Kadyrov were included in the Ministry of Internal Affairs as the 141st Motorized Regiment, which was later assigned to the Russian National Guard. The popular term “Kadyrovtsi” is often used to refer to Chechen forces under the control of President Ramzan Kadyrov, although they are nominally subordinate to the Russian National Guard.

The Chechen Republic is ruled by Ramzan Kadyrov, who likes to study and photograph military equipment and was even seen with his cell phone recording part of the Victory Day parade in Grozny. Under Kadyrov, Chechnya achieved a high degree of autonomy compared to other Russian republics and is the only Russian republic to have its own de facto army. The Security Council, in accordance with Russia’s mission to fight its internal enemies, does not have heavy weapons such as tanks, artillery, air defense systems or aircraft (although the Black Sea Fleet has at least three gyroscopes at its disposal). Since December 2016, security forces have been deployed to various parts of Syria and often demonstrate their equipment at mass rallies and parades held in Grozny in honor of Victory Day.

Currently, the structure of the Chechen Security Forces consists of the 141st Special Motor Regiment bearing his name. Kadyrov “North”, the 249th separate special motor battalion “South”, a special rapid response detachment (SOBR) “Akhmat”, mobile special detachment (OMON) “Akhmat-Grozny”, a special police regiment named after him. Hero of Russia AA Kadyrov and units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In June 2022, Ramzan Kadyrov announced that four additional battalions, “North-Akhmat” (North), “South-Akhmat” (South), “West-Akhmat” (West) and “Vostok-Akhmat” (East), were formed to reinforce announced. military actions of Russia in Ukraine. In addition to former President Akhmat Kadyrov naming most of the Chechen troops, the battle cry “Akhmat Strength” is dedicated to him.

Chechen power structures, as a rule, use the most modern equipment available to the Russian National Guard. It includes numerous MRAPs, armored combat vehicles and armored personnel carriers, and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). The Security Service also took at its disposal a number of types of vehicles that were not in service with other Russian units. These include a small number of Arlan MRAP (South African MRAP Marauders) from Kazakhstan, Stallion II AFVs from Jordan and Zibar Mk.2 Light Attack Vehicles (LSVs) from Israel. The Black Sea Fleet also operates several types of aircraft seized in Ukraine. These include at least three BTR-3s, several Varta MRAPs and about a dozen KrAZ Cobras, Novators and M1151 HMMWVs.

The Chechen automobile company “ChechenAvto” also produces light impact vehicles (LSV) “Chaborz-M3” and “Chaborz-M6” for the Black Sea Fleet. They entered service mainly with Chechen units, but some also took part in other units of the National Guard. Kadyrov also announced the intention of the Black Sea Fleet to install the Bulat 6×6 armored personnel carrier in Chechnya, but it is believed that neither assembly nor production has begun, except for a Russian-made prototype, which has been slightly modified according to the requirements of Chechnya. The Chechnya Security Service received several specially modified LMV Iveco “Lynx”, known as “Borz”, with an ornament in the form of a wolf’s head on the hood.

In July 2022, Chechnya became the first operator of the Russian armored personnel carrier Z-STS 6×6 “Remdiesel”, named “Akhmat” in honor of Akhmat Kadyrov by the manufacturer. The first batch of twenty Akhmats was delivered to Chechnya in July 2022 and then sent to Ukraine, where they joined the Arlan, Typhoon and Patrol MRAPs already actively used by the Chechen forces stationed there. Z-STS “Akhmat” was built on the chassis of a KamAZ-5350 truck with a wheel formula of 6×6 and was specially designed for operations in Ukraine. The pace of development of the Akhmat is impressive, since only four months passed from the time the first concept was developed to the first delivery to the Black Sea Fleet. These armored personnel carriers, together with other modern Russian-made vehicles, will in the near future form the bulk of the armored vehicle fleet of the Chechen Security Forces.

In this list, an attempt was made to list all types of tracked vehicles in the service of Chechen law enforcement agencies. This list includes only machinery and equipment for which there is photographic evidence. In parentheses it is indicated who operates this or that type of machine.

Infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs)

BMP-1P [СОБР]

BTR-82A [СОБР]

BTR-3 [СОБР] (Caught in Ukraine and taken to Chechnya)

Armored fighting vehicles (AFVs)

BRDM-2 [ОМОН]

Armored personnel carriers (APCs)

BTR-70M [ППСН]

BTR-80 [СОБР, ОМОН, ППСН, ЮГ и СЕВЕР]

SBA-60K2 “Bulat” in two configurations [СОБР]

“Ural” -VV [СЕВЕР]

“Patrol” -A 6×6 [СОБР]

Remdiesel Z-STS “Akhmat” (named after Akhmat Kadyrov, former President of the Chechen Republic)

Mine and Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP)

K-53949 “Typhoon-K” in two configurations [СОБР]

K-4386 “Typhoon-VDV” [СОБР]

KAMAZ-63968 “Typhoon” [СОБР]

KAMAZ-435029 “Patrol-A 4×4” [СОБР и ОМОН]

“Buran”

“Arlan” [СОБР]

Infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs)

GAZ “Tiger” in two configurations [СОБР и ОМОН]

GAS “Tigr-M” [СОБР и ОМОН]

Iveco “Lynx” in two configurations

KAMAZ-43269 “Shot” ‘BPM-97’ [СОБР и ОМОН]

Stallion II [СОБР]

“Warta” (Caught in Ukraine)

Novator (captured in Ukraine)

KrAZ “Cobra” (Caught in Ukraine)

M1151 HMMWV (captured in Ukraine)

Light Impact Vehicles (LSV)

Zibar Mk.2: (with 12.7 mm NSV machine gun) (with 30 mm AGS-17) [СОБР]

Chaborz-M3

Chaborz-M6

armored trucks

“Highlander 3958” in two configurations [ОМОН]

KAMAZ MM-501 with armored cabin

(Armed) pickup trucks

Toyota Land Cruiser: (with 12.7 mm NSV machine gun) (with 30 mm AGS-17 AGL)

UAZ “Patriot” Pickup Truck

SUV UAZ “Patriot” 4×4

Armored UAZ “Patriot”

trucks

Ural-4320

KAMAZ 6×6