Kadyrov Alleges Drone Strike Killed Ukrainian POWs, Suggests Use of Prisoners as Human Shields

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov claims that Ukrainian soldiers held as prisoners died in a drone strike on the grounds of the "Russian Special Forces University" in Gudermes.

He stated this on Telegram on October 29.

"As I mentioned earlier, there were no casualties on our side as a result of the attack. However, there were casualties among the Ukrainian prisoners," Kadyrov wrote. He did not provide an exact number of casualties.

He also claimed that "up to 10 Ukrainian prisoners of war" are allegedly held at each strategic facility in the republic, including at the university.

The use of prisoners of war as human shields is explicitly prohibited by the 1929 Geneva Convention.

There is no confirmation of Kadyrov's statements. Ukraine has not officially commented on the attack on the university in Gudermes. However, sources from the Ukrainian intelligence services confirmed the attack to the Suspline news outlet and reported that the drone that hit the university could have been launched from Dagestan or Ingushetia.

A drone strike targeted the Russian Special Forces University named after Vladimir Putin in Gudermes, Chechnya, setting a building’s roof on fire, on October 29. At that time, Kadyrov stated that there were no fatalities or injuries.