• Russia’s Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says Chechen fighters have been deployed to Ukraine;

• The leader says 12,000 volunteers are ready to increase the Russian contingent in the conflict;

• Kadyrov said Russian troops could easily capture major Ukrainian cities.

Ramzan Kadyrov, a Russian leader in Chechnya and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has claimed that Chechen troops were sent to Ukraine and called on Ukrainians to overthrow the government.

In a video released this Saturday (26), Kadyrov announced that 12,000 volunteers were ready to increase the Russian contingent.

He said that although the main task was to avoid casualties, the Russian army could easily capture major Ukrainian cities such as the capital, Kiev.

“As of today, we have no casualties or injuries, and no human being has a runny nose,” the Chechen leader said.

“The president [Putin] We have made the right decision and in any case we will carry out his orders, “Kadyrov concluded.

The political leader often described himself as Putin’s “infantryman” and urged Ukrainians to rise up against his own government, which included “neo-Nazis”. Ukrainian officials deny the description, saying it was absurd.

Kadyrov released the video on Saturday as Russian troops attacked Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles.