Vladimir Putin has promoted his feared crony Ramzan Kadyrov to Colonel-General amid rumours of a senior new war role for the brutal Chechen leader.
The Kremlin loyalist boasted in the video that he had been ‘personally congratulated’ by the Russian despot, amid fears the warlord could be poised for even greater responsibility in Ukraine.
Kadyrov, who has been one of the biggest cheerleaders of Putin’s invasion, has claimed he is the West’s top bogeyman, with more sanctions than even North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
In recent days his security agents have been exposed as ordering the husbands of anti-war women protesters to beat them as punishment.
Male relatives were sent to the conflict in Ukraine in vengeance.
He also claimed he was sending three of his underage sons – Akhmat, Eli, and Adam, aged 16, 15, and 14 respectively – to fight on the frontline in Ukraine.
Rumours say he wants to oust defense minister Sergei Shoigu and take on the job or play some other commander’s role.
‘Putin’s foot-soldier became a Colonel-General today – order number 709,’ he said.
‘The president personally congratulated me. I give my word I will honour this trust. This is an advance for me.’
