Formation of national unit to be sent to Ukraine promotes Kalmyk authorities

By announcing the formation of a military unit to be sent to Ukraine, authorities of Kalmykia are trying to win over voters by benefiting from their nationalist feelings, Alexander Kynev, a political analyst, believes. In his turn, Valery Badmaev, an activist, has suggested that by doing so, local authorities decided to stand out and show their loyalty to the Kremlin.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, stated that four military battalions would be formed in Chechnya to be sent to Ukraine. On June 28, he announced that one of them – the "West-Akhmat" battalion – had been already staffed by residents of Chechnya.

An advantage of national units is, first of all, their cohesion, Alexander Perendjiev, a military expert, believes. Another plus of a national unit is that they will speak the language that the enemy does not understand, he has added.

Alexander Artamonov, another expert, has pointed out that personnel subordination is better in national units.

Alexander Khramchikhin, a military expert, has confirmed that national units are more cohesive and motivated.

Alexander Kynev believes that the formation of a national unit in Kalmykia is an authorities' self-promotion action.

The formation of national units for the special operation can be both an order from Moscow and the desire of local authorities to stand out, Valery Badmaev has noted.

Earlier in Ingushetia, social network users criticized the idea of forming an Ingush company to be sent to Ukraine and called for officials and their children to be sent there.