CHECHEN COMMANDER WOUNDED – RUSSIAN MILITARY TV

One of the top commanders of the Chechen paramilitary group fighting in Ukraine has been injured, according to Russian military TV.

Adam Delimkhanov was wounded but still alive, according to a post from Zvezda TV – which is run by Russia’s defence ministry. It cited information from the press office of the Duma (Russia’s lower house of parliament), of which Delimkhanov is also a member.

The circumstances remain unclear, and the BBC has been unable to verify the report. Zvezda later quoted the Duma speaker as saying that Delimkhanov was “alive and well”.

Ukraine considers Delimkhanov to be the head of Chechen volunteer units fighting in Ukraine, and a close ally of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Kadyrov himself wrote that he could not contact Delimkhanov, and asked for help finding his “dear brother”.

On Monday, the Russian defence ministry signed a contract with the Chechen paramilitary unit to bring it under direct control.