Akhmed Zakayev, who has positioned himself as the leader of the so-called Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, stands accused of forming a terrorist network supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This account comes from materials in a criminal case reported by TASS.
In July 2022, while operating on Ukrainian soil, Zakayev proclaimed himself the head of the nominally independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. He reportedly joined forces with Yusupov, Dzhambetov, and several others who shared a common objective: to direct military actions in favor of the Chechen cause as part of Ukraine’s defense landscape against Russian forces.
According to the criminal case files, the group allegedly established a terrorist organization described as the “Separate Special Purpose Battalion of the Ministry of Defense of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as part of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion.”
Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the presentation of an emblem described as the “Emir named after Dzhokhar Dudayev,” associated with one of the figures aligned with the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. The corresponding image was published on the official website of the Ukrainian president’s office.
Kadyrov has previously mused about potential actions if he were in the presidency of the Russian Federation, offering thoughts that drew attention to the broader regional dynamics and the ongoing debate over leadership and security in the North Caucasus.