Chechen warlord is anxious to continue fighting in Ukraine because he fears losing political control

However, a political and security analyst has stated that Kadyrov’s “reputational bubble has burst,” citing the war in Ukraine as a “gamble.” Kadyrov, a Putin loyalist, stated that he does not believe the peace negotiations presently taking place in Turkey would result in any progress. The warlord himself, accused of numerous human rights violations and infamous for his harsh hold on Chechnya, stands to lose a lot if Russia loses the war.

According to political and security expert Harold Chambers, Kadyrov’s backing for the invasion is a “gamble,” since his support in the Kremlin “doesn’t extend much beyond the president’s office.”

This is due to Kadyrov’s history of “clashing with security agencies and even flouting government rules.”

Kadyrov’s administration in Chechnya, according to Mr Chambers, is “characterised by ruthless, indiscriminate brutality,” including a “effort to rid the republic of its LGBTQ community” and “bulk kidnappings of opponents’ relatives.”

He did, however, warn that Kadyrov’s “reputational bubble has broken,” noting, “Almost everyone, except the Chechen media circus, has recognised that his army has not participated in battle, yet has nonetheless incurred substantial deaths.”

“This is likely to empower his opponents within the Russian political elite, who may fear him less, allowing for more confrontation.”

Mr Chambers wrote in UnHerd magazine, “When the dust eventually settles, Kadyrov may not be standing where he thought he was.”

In a Telegram message on Tuesday, Kadyrov stated that Russia should “finish what has been started” in Ukraine.

“I am thinking about the discussions that are taking place in Turkey,” he remarked.

“My fundamental conviction is that the discussions will be futile.

“I feel we must finish what we started in order to defeat the Banderites, Nazis, and demons.

“Only then do we need to decide what to do next.”

During World War II, the Banderites were an organisation of right-wing nationalists.

The word is currently frequently used to describe Ukrainian nationalists.

Kadyrov again reiterated Putin’s allegation that the goal of his invasion was to “denazify” Ukraine, which is largely viewed as untrue.

Chief Russian negotiator Vladimir Medisnky called the peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev as “productive.”

However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US has seen no indication that peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are progressing in a “productive” manner.

“There is what Russia says and what Russia does,” he continued, “and we are focused on the latter.”

“And what Russia is doing is continuing to brutalise Ukraine.”

This comes after Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin stated that Moscow has agreed to “significantly reduce” activities near Kyiv and Chernihiv in order to “build mutual confidence” in the discussions.