Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has said his three teenage sons – aged 14, 15 and 16 – will soon head to Ukraine to fight on the frontlines.
Mr Kadyrov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, shared a video of his sons on Telegram and said: “Minor age should not interfere with the training of the defenders of our Motherland.
“The grandchildren of the First President of the Chechen Republic, Hero of Russia Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov – Akhmat, Eli and Adam are 16, 15 and 14 years old respectively.
“But their military training began a long time ago, almost from an early age. It’s not enough just to know how to shoot.
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“On the basis of the RUS, they are taught how to handle various weapons, how to use them at any distance, and the theoretical foundations.
“I always believed that the main goal of any father is to instil piety in his sons and teach them to protect the family, the people, the Fatherland. If you want peace, prepare for war!”
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Kremlin-backed Mr Kadyrov made the announcement two days after he said Moscow should consider using a low-yield nuclear weapon in Ukraine after Russian forces retreated in some areas.
He also criticised the Russian military command saying its retreat from the city of Lyman in eastern Ukraine was a result of incompetence and nepotism.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the comments were driven by emotions.
“Even in difficult moments, emotions must be excluded while making assessments,” Mr Peskov said.
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“We prefer to stick to well-balanced, objective assessments.”
Responding to Mr Kadyrov’s comments on nuclear weapons, Mr Peskov said conditions for their use are outlined in Russia’s security doctrine, adding that “there could be no other reasons” for their deployment.
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