Analysts point to the secrecy of data on Ukrainian prisoners in Chechnya.

State Duma Deputy Shamsail Saraliev's claims of several hundred Ukrainian prisoners in Chechnya are questionable, and analysts point out that there is no reliable data. They have not ruled out the possibility that Kadyrov is establishing his own fund for exchanges outside of those conducted with the participation of the Ministry of Defense.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war captured by "Akhmat" are being held in Chechnya. State Duma Deputy Shamsail Saraliev stated that there are preconditions for their return to their homeland.

Chairwoman of the Civic Assistance Committee* Svetlana Gannushkina* did not rule out the possibility that Ukrainian prisoners are being held in Chechnya.

"Anything could happen. There are secret prisons there for our citizens. Why not for Ukrainian prisoners of war?" she told a Kavkazsky correspondent. node."

The human rights activist does not rule out the possibility that the Chechen leadership may be forming its own prisoner exchange fund, while Kadyrov "is trying to negotiate the exchange himself." "During the Chechen war, there were many exchanges that bypassed the state. There is such experience. Of course, it's difficult to say now," Gannushkina* noted.

The contradictions between Kadyrov's criticism of the surrender and his efforts to rescue those captured are resolved quite simply.

"If it's one of our people, then we still need to help him. But if it's an ordinary Chechen, not from Kadyrov's inner circle, then we can say that he should have burned with the tank," Gannushkina* explained.

She agrees that Saraliev is calling on the relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war to do something that is not very encouraged in Russia itself.

"Of course, he is calling on Ukrainians to show activity, which is not shown in Russia. We (who remained in the Russian Federation) are also told this by those (who are now outside the Russian Federation), who at one time also did not come out," said Gannushkina*.

A human rights activist familiar with the realities of Chechnya is confident that there are not hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Chechnya. "Saraliev's data is not credible. It's possible that a few Azov prisoners were transferred there, but not hundreds," he believes.

At the same time, the human rights activist believes it's entirely possible that the Chechen leadership is forming its own prisoner exchange fund. "But the assumptions about hundreds of Chechens in Ukrainian captivity are also not credible," he noted.

The human rights activist sees no contradiction between criticism of the surrender and efforts to free the prisoners.

"What Kadyrov once said does not mean that they will always be guided by this. It is more useful to exchange them and send them back to the front," he pointed out.

Vladimir Malykhin, a member of the Memorial Human Rights Center*, reported that there is no precise information about Ukrainian prisoners of war who may be held in Chechnya.

"Little is known about Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia. Russia is not at war with Ukraine, but is conducting a Special Military Operation, and therefore does not consider them prisoners and does not comply with international humanitarian law regarding them. Most of the prisoners have no contact with the outside world, and Russian authorities do not report where they are being held; there are only very fragmentary and inaccurate data. According to the Ukrainian Kharkiv Human Rights Group, as of September 18, at least 85 Ukrainian citizens were being detained in Chechnya. This is a minimum estimate; we do not know the exact number and how many of them are prisoners of war," he said.

According to the human rights activist, there is no information about the conditions of detention of prisoners of war specifically in Chechnya.

"But in general, the conditions of detention of prisoners in Russia are appalling – they are held in inhumane conditions, regularly subjected to beatings, torture, humiliating treatment, and psychological pressure," Malykhin noted.

He does not know the number of Chechens in Ukrainian captivity. "Unfortunately, I don't have any data on this either, I only know what was in the media. Perhaps the Ukrainians, who work more closely with prisoners and interrogate them, know more," he pointed out Malykhin.

He also did not rule out that the Chechen leadership intends to create a separate exchange fund.

"I don't have any specific information about this, but I don't see what could rule out such a possibility. Kadyrov is quite autonomous in forming his own military units, in using very unique methods of staffing and supplying them. I think that this autonomy also extends to prisoners. This is indirectly confirmed by the fact that he has repeatedly posted recordings of prisoners of war on his Telegram channel, and in 2022, his sons even brought him three prisoners "as a gift," Malykhin explained.

The human rights activist sees no contradiction in the positions of Kadyrov and Saraliev.

"It seems to me that Kadyrov positions himself as the 'father of the people,' the 'master of Chechnya.' All Chechens are his people, no matter where they are or what they have done, all are accountable to him, since he speaks on behalf of the Chechen people. This is evident in his desire to control the diaspora, and, it seems to me, it is also evident in his attitude toward the prisoners. Yes, he is dissatisfied with their behavior, but since they are his people, he must take action against them himself. I wouldn't rule out that if this initiative is implemented, we will see repentant speeches by released Chechen prisoners of war, where they will repent and ask forgiveness from Kadyrov and the entire Chechen people for their unworthy behavior that led to their captivity," Malykhin summarized..

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov previously claimed that in Chechnya "on "At each strategic facility, up to 10 Ukrainian prisoners are being held," who are being used as "human shields" and hostages. On October 29, 2024, when a drone attack caught fire at a building on the grounds of the Russian Special Forces University (RUS) in Gudermes, Kadyrov stated that Ukrainian prisoners had been killed there.

In January 2024, Kadyrov offered to release 20 Ukrainian soldiers in exchange for lifting sanctions on his family, horses, and planes, but after criticism from z-bloggers, he called these words "fat trolling."

* added to the register of foreign agents

** the organization is designated as terrorist, its activities are prohibited in Russia.

*** Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.