Battle for Freedom On the Frontline

‘When the Ukrainian army starts retreating, they kill civilians in their own homes. We’ve seen it happen many times. They do it because they are afraid people would talk about the crimes and the atrocities committed here’.

These are the words of Daniil Martynov, deputy head of the Russian National Guard Department in the Chechen Republic. Like many other Chechen fighters, Daniil participates in the Russian special operation fighting against neo-Nazism in Ukraine.

The Chechen soldiers say they became convinced Ukrainian troops had planned an attack for a long time: ‘They have been preparing for years, reinforcing this specific line of defence. They have fortified their positions well. But it doesn’t matter; we will break through.'