Kremlin hands Mariupol Chechen Akhmat unit to secure Kadyrov's loyalty
Illustrative photo: The Kremlin is giving Mariupol's resources to Akhmat (GettyImages)
The Kremlin plans to hand over occupied Mariupol and the surrounding region to full control by Chechen Akhmat union in exchange for maintaining the loyalty of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, according to the partisan movement Atesh.
Akhmat steps up presence in Mariupol
According to the underground movement, additional Akhmat units are already being deployed to Mariupol. Their key task is to establish full control over local resources and strengthen Grozny's influence in the occupied territory.
The main interest of the Chechen formations is focused on the industrial potential of the destroyed city.
"With the Kremlin's approval, the city is effectively handed over for plunder in exchange for loyalty, while the interests of local residents or rank-and-file Russian collaborators are not taken into account," the partisans write.
Ignoring local residents' interests
As noted by Atesh, the interests of the local population, as well as ordinary Russian collaborators, are not considered when these decisions are made. The city is viewed exclusively as a resource base.
Mariupol residents are increasingly noticing large numbers of military personnel of Caucasian appearance on the streets, wearing Akhmat insignia. They move around in expensive SUVs without license plates or with fake plates.
Show of impunity
According to the underground movement, such demonstrative behavior indicates a sense of complete impunity and the status of the new "masters" of the region.
"We are closely monitoring the deployment locations of these uniformed 'businessmen' and recording the routes of their elite vehicles," Atesh writes.
Earlier, we reported that utility tariffs were sharply increased in temporarily occupied Mariupol. In particular, water supply rates nearly doubled. At the same time, water is supplied in the city for only a few hours once every two days.
