Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has sent his Akhmat battalion to the Belgorod region’s border, following concerns about raids from Russian territory. This deployment is seen as part of Kadyrov’s efforts to align himself with the Russian Ministry of Defense. This action follows the movement of two Russian rebel groups into Belgorod, escalating the conflict in Ukraine, and increasing shelling attacks and drone strikes in the region. 

Key Points: 

1. Two Russian rebel groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, infiltrated Belgorod in early June, intensifying the existing conflict.
2. The Belgorod region has witnessed a surge in shelling attacks and drone strikes, with Russia blaming Ukrainian forces. This recent escalation marks some of the most significant incursions inside Russian territory since the war commenced.
3. Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, deployed the Chechen Akhmat battalion to the Belgorod region to safeguard the border against potential raids. Kadyrov’s forces are working in conjunction with Russian forces.
4. The Institute for the Study of War suggests that Kadyrov’s deployment could be an attempt to present himself and Chechen forces as cooperative with the Russian Ministry of Defense, contrasting himself with the actions of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a financier of the Wagner Group.
5. Russian soldiers fighting against the rebel groups expressed concerns about poor leadership, lack of reinforcements, and equipment, resulting in high casualty numbers.

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