“This is the Russian empire’s last war“: Why volunteers from Chechnya are fighting for Ukraine

They are feared by both the “Kadyrovites” and the Russian army. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many Chechens living in Europe rallied in support of Kyiv and began forming volunteer battalions. Now, they are leveraging their combat experience from the first and second Chechen wars to defeat Russia in Ukraine and, ultimately, to seek independence for the entire Caucasus region. Why have they taken up arms again? Who do they consider terrorists? And why will they never forgive Russia? 00:00:45 - “For the last 15 years I lived my peaceful life in Norway“ 00:02:00 - “When Bucha happened, I remembered Samashki, I remembered the massacre“ 00:04:20 - Putin on Chechnya and Ukraine 00:07:36 - The Chechen units’ roles in Ukraine’s International Legion 00:10:45 - “The Russians covered Bakhmut with bodies“ 00:11:42 - Akhmed Zakayev on the roots of Russia’s war in Ukraine 00:18:18 - “What [Russian soldiers] did in Chechnya, they’re doing in Ukraine today“ 00:25:59 - “The Chechens owe a debt to Ukraine“ 00:27:55 - On Ramzan Kadyrov 00:33:43 - How can Russia lose this war? Watch this report in Russian: Support The Insider’s work with donations: #theinsider #ukraine #chechnya Sources cited in this video: Samashki: (2023 article, summary of the Samashki massacre by the Memorial Human Rights Center; in Russian) :// (Original 1995 report by Memorial from Samashki; in Russian) (Human Rights Watch World Report, 1996) (UN Secretary General’s Report on the situation of human rights in Chechnya, 26 March 1996) #P293_37391 (Human Rights Watch, 1995) Доклад_Мемориал.pdf (“Chain of wars, chain of crimes, chain of impunity: Russia’s wars in Chechnya, Syria, Ukraine”; Report by Memorial Human Rights Center, 2023) Novye Aldi: #P99_2305 (“February 5: A day of slaughter in Novye Aldi”; Human Rights Watch report, June 2000) (Russian-language list of those killed in Novye Aldi and Chernorechie on Feb. 5, 2000; compiled by Human Rights Watch) (“Russia Condemned for Chechnya Killings: Europe’s Top Human Rights Court Issues Ruling in Favor of Chechen Plaintiffs”; Human Rights Watch, October 12, 2006) (Russian-language report titled “‘Zachistka.’ The village of Novye Aldi, February 5, 2000 — deliberate crimes against the civilian population.” Compiled by the Memorial NGO, published by Caucasian Knot). (Estamirov and Others vs. Russia, October 2006; European Court of Human Rights) (Musayev and Others vs. Russia, July 2007; European Court of Human Rights)