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Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, delivered a warm congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 70th birthday, after a week of criticizing how the Ukraine war has been handled.
In a stark shift of tone after publicly ridiculing Putin's military amid a series of successful counteroffensives conducted by Kyiv in Ukraine's south and northeast, Kadyrov extended his well wishes to Putin, offering praise and crediting the leader for supporting Chechnya "in the most difficult times."
"Russian President Vladimir Putin played a key role in the fate of the Chechen people," he said, adding that Russian leader "saved the republic" and "raised [it] from ruins."
Kadyrov said Putin's leadership has turned Russia into one of the most powerful countries in the world.
"Today, neither the collective West, nor Europe, nor even Ukraine can dispute this obvious and indisputable fact. And it will always be so! Putin has changed the world position of Russia and forced us to reckon with the position of our great state!" Kadyrov added.
The Chechen leader's message comes after he publicly criticized Russia's top generals this week, including Russian colonel-general Oleksandr Lapin, saying that if it were up to him, he would demote Lapin, deprive him of his awards, and "send him to the frontline with a machine gun in his hands to wash away his shame with blood."
Kadyrov, responding to the news that Ukraine had liberated the key eastern supply hub of Lyman, also suggested this week that Russia should consider using a small tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine in response.
Kyiv-based Russian military expert Oleg Zhdanov told Ukraine's Radio NV that he believed Kadyrov would soon turn on Putin, analyzing his recent criticism over Putin's military amid the war.
"At the beginning of this massive aggression, I said that Ramzan Kadyrov would be the main gravedigger of this Putin regime, which, in fact, is happening," said Zhdanov, a reserve colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"I do not think that the Kremlin approved the change in the rhetoric of the federal channels, gave permission for such statements by Kadyrov," he said. "In my opinion, this is already a working propaganda machine."
According to the military analyst: "The propaganda machine is turning against the Kremlin."
Zhdanov's assessment came before Putin "promoted" Kadyrov to the position of Colonel General.
"Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] told me in person and congratulated me: I'm immensely grateful to our commander-in-chief for the high esteem of my service," Kadyrov said on his Telegram on Wednesday.
"It's a big honor for me. I swear I will make good on the trust he placed in me."
Ivan Klyszcz, a research fellow for the International Centre for Defence and Security, told Newsweek that the award from Putin likely comes amid Kadyrov suffering significant losses in the war.
"The Kadyrov award is a token of appreciation for his service. It serves to both give Kadyrov more tools to assert his legitimacy as a war leader, and thus help him keep control over Chechnya. The losses of Chechen forces have been large, so he needs such support," Klyszcz said.
Newsweek has contacted Russia's foreign ministry for comment.
About the writer
Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more