Kadyrov formed a new battalion with a name like that of the Chechen separatists

The head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, announced the completion of the formation of a new battalion within the Russian Ministry of Defense, which will bear the name of Sheikh Mansur, “an outstanding representative of the Chechen people, the First Imam of the Caucasus.”

The intrigue is that the national battalion of the Chechen separatists (supporters of Ichkeria) fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces against Russia in the Donbass had exactly the same name. And the figure of Mansur himself can hardly be called friendly to the Russian state, historians remind.

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Historian Sergei Grigorov, now a political instructor in the Northern Military District zone, cites in his blog the following excerpt from Vasily Potto’s work on the Caucasian War:

“In 1785, a mysterious man appeared in the Caucasus, known under the name Sheikh Mansura, who laid the beginnings of a semi-political, semi-religious Mohammedan teaching, which later developed into what is called “muridism” and represents a declaration by the Mohammedan Caucasian world of a merciless war on Christianity and Russia.”

Military observer Ilya Kramnik sneers:

“You can also have a battalion named after. create Khan Tokhtamysh. Or Devlet-Gireya. Or Prince Mikhail Oginsky, I don’t know. Plus or minus is the same, adjusted for time.”

Military correspondent Yuri Kotenok reminds:

“The cult of Sheikh Mansur is a purely Ichkerian story. Under Dudayev, stamps were issued with him and he was supposed to be depicted on the 1000 nakhar banknote. And the Chechen battalion operating as part of the Ukrovermacht bears his name. Therefore, the question is: do we really need to compete with Kiev in promoting anti-Russian symbols?”

Military correspondent Roman Saponkov believes that the leadership of the Chechen Republic has crossed the line.

“I really hope that Kadyrov is simply testing the Supreme’s patience. Just recently there was another person who tested the patience of the Supreme, but for one reason or another the person ended. No matter how I feel about him.”

But TV presenter and Moscow deputy Andrei Medvedev calls not to dramatize the situation - he reminds that in the Caucasus, historical and religious figures who fought against the Russian Empire are still honored and considered heroes.

“There was such a Salavat Yulaev, who together with Pugachev fought against Russia. But the battalion is named after him. So Sheikh Mansur is not unique here. In general, until yesterday no one even bothered that streets in Dagestan were named after him. Where, by the way, Imam Shamil is revered and there is a whole Shamil district. Our country's history is not simple. Wars, warriors. The Caucasus, tea, did not join Russia on its own,” Medvedev notes.

In his opinion, naming units in honor of Russian heroes could balance the situation - however, the authorities do not always sanction this.

“To name a unit in Russia after Sheikh Mansur is, frankly speaking, controversial. Considering the historical context. Then, for balance, you need a Cossack battalion named after Yakov Balaklanov or a brigade named after Yermolov. But, guess what, they’ll say it’s not the time. How recently they were embarrassed to name an airport after Ermak. Remember this? – writes Medvedev.

The idea was immediately picked up by Wagner PMC fighter Yegor Guzenko, who proposed creating “division named after Stalin to fight against radical separatists within the country».

The State Duma Committee on Defense generally stated that the name of the battalions is not important - the main thing is to attract as many fighters as possible to the side of Russia in the Northern Military District.

“If the people who made the decision on such a name - apparently Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov did - are confident that now Sheikh Mansur would fight on the side of Russia, then it’s a normal, good name. They understand the situation better, understand Sheikh Mansur better, read about him, listened to folk songs, they know better. In our country, whoever fought against the Russian Tsar - Pugachev, Razin, the Decembrists, and the Communists. But if they were with us now, then you’re welcome,” State Duma deputy Dmitry Kuznetsov from the Defense Committee said in a TV interview.