Putin Praises Chechen Troops in First Visit to Region in Over a Decade

Russian President inspects forces as Ukraine's incursion into Kursk marks a significant escalation in the conflict.

Putin's surprise visit to Chechnya is his first since 2011.
He met with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and inspected troops preparing for deployment to Ukraine.
Kadyrov reported that over 47,000 Chechen fighters have joined the conflict since it began.
Ukraine's recent cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region has intensified the ongoing war.
Putin visited multiple sites in Chechnya, including a special forces academy and the grave of Kadyrov's father.