It is an unusual step: The notorious ruler of the Russian republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has admitted the death of 23 soldiers from his units in a Ukrainian attack. 58 other fighters were injured in the attack in the Russian-occupied Cherson region. "Yes, our losses in the morning hours of that day were great," wrote Kadyrov, followed by slogans of perseverance. Normally, the Russian army and the troops supporting it are very reluctant to give concrete information about losses.

Ukraine reported on Tuesday evening that more than 100 Chechen soldiers had been hit by artillery in Cherson. "Precise artillery strikes by the defense forces killed 30 occupiers in the village of Kajiry in the Kherson region and more than 100 enemy soldiers remained under the rubble," said the evening situation report of the Ukrainian General Staff.

The Ukrainian military governor of the Kherson region, Serhiy Khlan, said that after leaving the city of Kherson across the Dnipro, the Chechen unit was stationed in a school in a village on the other bank of the river. The men themselves revealed their whereabouts through photos on social networks. "All our forces had to do was keep at it," Chlan said. He reported more than 40 dead and 60 buried.

Kadyrov initially did not comment on the incident himself, but on Tuesday he vented his displeasure on social networks about Russia's allegedly too soft action in Ukraine. For the shelling of Russian territory - which Kadyrov counts as Kherson after the annexation - Ukrainian cities must be razed to the ground, he demanded.

Kadyrov, known for his brutal leadership in Chechnya in the North Caucasus, has emerged as one of the most ardent supporters of the war since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, sending troops of his own into Ukraine.

Sources: Telegram, DPA