Ukraine Deals Kadyrov’s “Akhmat” Unit Its Deadliest Blow Since 2022

Ukrainian military intelligence units, in coordination with Territorial Defense forces, carried out an operation that resulted in the heaviest reported personnel losses for Russia’s Rosgvardia-affiliated “Akhmat” unit since the start of the full-scale invasion.

According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) on April 29, the operation was conducted by fighters from the “Shamanbat” special unit—composed in part of soldiers from the Ichkerian diaspora—alongside Ukraine’s 104th Territorial Defense Brigade “Horyn” and supported by HUR’s agent operations units.

“HUR special forces have crushed Kadyrov’s fighters. The ‘Akhmat’ unit has suffered its heaviest losses since 2022,” HUR stated.

According to HUR, Ukrainian forces used a combination of drone strikes and artillery to target the group, destroying military transport and armored vehicles. The agency reported that at least 40 Russian fighters were killed, with more than 80 others wounded.

The intelligence service described the operation as the largest single loss of personnel for the “Akhmat” unit since 2022. HUR added that a detailed video of the operation is scheduled for release on May 1 via its official platforms.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the targeted unit belongs to Russia’s Rosgvardia and is commonly referred to as “Akhmat,” a formation linked to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Open-source reporting indicates the unit has been deployed in Ukraine since the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Earlier, fighters from Ukraine’s 108th Kodatska Territorial Defense Brigade struck a group of Kadyrov-aligned “Akhmat” fighters advancing in a dense formation along a road, according to footage released by the brigade on December 23, 2025, with the unit targeted using coordinated drone reconnaissance and precision artillery fire.

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