Experts see Kremlin's hand in Kadyrov's attacks on Shoigu's ministry

Another portion of Kadyrov's criticism of the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) for defeats suffered in Ukraine has appeared with the Kremlin's approval; and it's not by occasion that it was so rapidly spread in the media space, military experts believe. They assess the probability of Russia's use of nuclear weapons in line with Kadyrov's call as extremely low.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 1, Ramzan Kadyrov criticized the Russian MoD for the decision to withdraw troops from Krasny Liman because of the threat of their encirclement, and also offered to declare the martial law in the border areas and use low-yield nuclear weapons. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, has stressed that a head of the region has the right to express his opinion, but emotions are inappropriate.

The senior officers of the Russian MoD that is headed by Sergey Shoigu, have reacted to Kadyrov's words negatively, Alexander Khramchikhin, a military expert, has noted. He recalled that earlier Kadyrov had already criticized the MoD's top bosses.

Gennady Gudkov, a retired FSB colonel, believes that Kadyrov has stirred up MoD's generals by expressing some militaries' opinions.

Kadyrov's statements are dictated by the Kremlin's top leadership, but Kadyrov himself is not popular among militaries, Mr Gudkov believes.

Pavel Felgengauer, a military analyst, believes that the MoD is dissatisfied with Kadyrov's statements.

According to Vasily Dandykin, another military expert, Kadyrov should not criticize the MoD, since it's the president's prerogative.

Mr Dandykin believes that nuclear weapons can be used "by the commander-in-chief in a special danger," but this is unlikely: Russia is capable to conduct combat operations with conventional weapons.

There is no threat of using nuclear weapons, Mr Felgengauer is sure. "Nuclear weapons are used as a threat, but the ain thereof is to constrain threats. The use of them looks unlikely," he has stated.