'Dozens' of Chechen Akhmats Eliminated In Surprise Ukraine Sumy Attack

Observers of Russia's invasion could be forgiven if they had largely written off the Chechens as social media-happy poseurs who preferred posting to fighting. 

But they continue to emerge as the Kremlin's dirty work specialists: assigned to make sure others do the actual fighting while they loll threateningly behind the lines in relative safety. As the kill zone has expanded, the concept of relative safety has contracted, meaning that, as this latest example of Ukrainian ruthlessness reveals, no place is really safe anymore for Russian military forces. JL

New Voice of Ukraine reports:

Dozens of Russian Akhmat unit fighters were eliminated in a special operation conducted in Sumy Oblast. The operation was carried out by fighters of the HUR's Shamanbat unit, Chechen soldiers fighting on Ukraine's side, together with the 104th Territorial Brigade. A former Akhmat soldier received a listening device via FPV drone and installed it in the Akhmat command's meeting room. This allowed Ukrainian operatives to record the conversations of the unit's command staff, enabling strikes on Kadyrovite concentration areas. Akhmat suffered its heaviest losses since the beginning of the invasion as a result of the operation: 41 killed and 87 wounded. Over a hundred more are considered missing in action.

Dozens of Russian Akhmat unit fighters were eliminated in a unique special operation conducted in Sumy Oblast between February and April 2026, Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) reported on May 1.

The operation was carried out by fighters of the HUR's Shamanbat special unit, including soldiers of a free Ichkeria [movement, actively fighting on Ukraine's side against Russian forces - ed.], together with the 104th Horyn Territorial Defense Brigade.

Intelligence officers received information about the enemy's plans in Sumy Oblast through an agent — a former Akhmat soldier with whom the HUR established contact in early 2025. His transition to Ukrainian-controlled territory was organized later. 

The agent received a listening device via an FPV drone and installed it in the Akhmat command's meeting room. This allowed Ukrainian operatives to record the conversations of the unit's entire command staff, enabling strikes on Kadyrovite concentration areas, HUR stated.

Akhmat suffered its heaviest losses since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a result of the operation: 41 killed and 87 wounded, HUR wrote. Over a hundred more mercenaries are considered missing in action.

160+ units of armored and motor vehicles, more than 25 UAVs of various types, as well as communication equipment, electronic warfare and reconnaissance systems, engineering equipment and hardware, weapons and fuel depots, and other means of warfare were also destroyed and damaged, HUR reported. 

Abdul Hakim, commander of the Shamanbat special unit, called on Chechens to avoid mobilization into the occupation army and not to sign contracts to fight against Ukraine