Close Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov reveals 23 soldiers died in Ukrainian shelling attack

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Thursday (October 27) said 23 of his soldiers had been killed and another 58 wounded in a Ukrainian artillery attack this week.

Kadyrov's comments were unusual, given that pro-Moscow forces have rarely admitted to major battlefield losses since the war started. In a statement on Telegram, Kadyrov said the incident had taken place in the southern Kherson region.

"As of today 23 fighters were killed, 58 wounded, and four of them are in critical condition. They receive medical treatment in Rostov and Moscow," he said.

Kadyrov, who heads Russia's southern Muslim-majority region of Chechnya, describes himself as a Putin foot soldier and says he has sent thousands of men to fight in the war.

After the attack, Chechen forces carried out a revenge attack and killed about 70 Ukrainians, he said. Reuters was not immediately able to verify his account.