Politico cites the number of Chechens fighting for Ukraine

Some 150-200 Chechens are fighting on the side of Ukraine in hostilities there; they are mostly descendants of former militants who fought against federal troops in the first and second Chechen campaigns; they are among the personnel of three units, the Politico, an US-based outlet, reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 1, 2022, Ramzan Kadyrov promised to put an end to the combatants in Ukraine who call themselves Chechens and oppose Russian militaries. On March 3, 2022, he promised to pay USD 500,000 for the heads of the commanders of the Ukrainian battalions, as well as of the Chechen battalion that fights on the side of Ukraine. On October 12, 2022, Chechen media reported the initiation of a criminal case against Khusein Djambetov, a native of Chechnya, on suspicion of creating a terrorist grouping "Separate Special Purpose Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria" (known as OBON), which is part of the foreign legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

The OBON is not the only Chechen military unit within the AFU, said Abu Isa Shishani, a military man from Ukraine with combat experience during the Chechen wars. "In the AFU, there are a number of units that have a much longer history; for example, the well-known unit "Mad Pack". There is also the SOG (Special Operation Group). This is a very secret unit within the AFU, like the British SAS," he said.

According to the Politico, Chechens are fighting in three units – the Djokhar Dudaev battalion, the Sheikh Mansur battalion, and another secret battalion that works with the Ukrainian military intelligence.

Other foreign mercenaries reported that Chechens are one of the most ideological participants in this conflict.