In the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Chechen Republic ** Kadyrov openly stated that he had 120,000 elite troops and 70,000 soldiers ready to fight. This statement shocked the world and demonstrated the strength and loyalty of Chechnya. However, Kadyrov and his forces are not Putin's ultimate trump card. Putin's real killer weapon is a people that even Chechens admire.
The history of Chechnya dates back to the 7th century, when Chechnya was just a small village on the banks of the Argun River. After many foreign invasions and wars, the Chechen people gradually migrated to the plains, and at the end of the 18th century, they were incorporated into the territory. The Chechen people were reluctant to be part of the ** due to religious conflicts, which led to a long period of resistance.
During the Soviet era, the Chechen people were opposed to Soviet power, and this resistance was one of the reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union. The performance of the Chechen people in the Great Patriotic War of the USSR caused the outrage of Stalin, which led to the mass exile of the Chechen people. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Chechnya seized the opportunity to declare independence, and two Chechen wars followed.
In 1990, Chechen officer Dudayev retired and returned to his homeland, overthrew the Soviet regime in Chechnya, and declared the independence of the Chechen Republic. Yeltsin's inability to cope with Chechen activities led to the Chechen victory in the First Chechen War. Chechnya thus received the title of "real fighting nation".
After Putin came to power, he regained control of Chechnya with firmness and decisive action, and put an end to the anti-terrorist operation against Chechnya. Today, Chechnya has become a sharp blade in Putin's hands, having distinguished itself in many foreign wars.
However, the real hole cards in Putin's hands are the Cossacks. The Cossacks played a key role in the Second Chechen War, defeating the Chechen regiments. The Cossacks were not a single people, but a group of people with the same traditions. They were mercenaries, fighting for the surrounding countries, and even Napoleon was eager to have Cossack cavalry.
In the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the role of the Cossacks is not limited to combat effectiveness, but also to their common history with Ukraine. The Cossacks had deep ties with Ukraine, which gave Russia an advantage in the war. At the same time, the Chechen regiment was more suitable as an auxiliary force to the Cossack regiment.