Introduction
The past two weeks in the Caucasus were relatively calm, with no major terrorist incidents or Ukrainian drone strikes reported. Muslim-majority republics are preparing for the month of Ramadan, while winter weather has caused disruptions in several regions. The absence of major events can largely be explained by the New Year holidays across Russia. Below are the main developments across the North Caucasian republics.
Adyghea
Local authorities of the Republic of Adyghea have reported ongoing efforts to restore the electricity supply, noting that at least 16,000 people remain without power. Telegram users have indicated that some settlements and districts of Maykop have been without electricity since December 30. In Adyghea and the Krasnodar region, tens of thousands of people remain without power. In Krasnodar Krai, the authorities have blamed the energy supply company for delays in the restoration work.
Around 43,000 residents of Krasnodar Krai were left without electricity on January 1 due to heavy snowfall. Emergency outages also affected several railway stations in the region, causing delays for approximately 50 trains. On January 2, tens of thousands of people in Adyghea and Krasnodar Krai were still without power. The head of Adyghea promised that electricity would be restored to the remaining residents by January 3.
Disruptions to the electricity supply are common in the Krasnodar region and Adyghea during the winter season, with heavy snowfall frequently causing power outages. In addition to natural factors, Ukrainian drone attacks further exacerbate these disruptions.
Karachaevo-Cherkesia
January 12, Cherkessk. The 2026 “Ramadan Tent” is scheduled to open on the ground floor of the Cathedral Mosque in Cherkessk, with a capacity of up to 800 people at a time. The space has been renovated for this very purpose: carpets were removed and floor tiles were installed in their stead. During the month of Ramadan, tables and chairs will be set up for collective iftar meals.
“Ramadan is a month of good deeds, kindness, and generosity. We encourage residents to take part in this communal effort and support those observing the fast,” the press service of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Karachayevo-Cherkessia stated. The “Ramadan Tent” was opened for the first time at the Cathedral Mosque in Cherkessk in 2025, on the initiative of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Karachayevo-Cherkessia.
Islam plays a significant role in Karachaevo-Cherkessia. Since the 1990s, there has been an active Islamic movement seeking to establish a sharia-governed territory in the republic. Although, during the active phase of the Imarat Kavkaz insurgency, the republic remained relatively peaceful and did not experience major terrorist incidents, the influence of Islam has continued to grow. As a result, local authorities are attempting to adapt to this trend and position themselves at the forefront of Islamic initiatives within the republic.
Kabardino-Balkaria
An initiative group in Nalchik protested against the removal of evergreen trees in Karashev Alley. Up to 30 trees were chopped down, while the original plan envisaged the removal of around 70. Following public pressure, the head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Kazbek Kokov, decided to temporarily halt the process. The city administration held a meeting with members of the initiative group opposing the reduction of green spaces. The head of the administration, Taymuraz Akhokhov, assured protesters that all cut trees would be replaced with newly planted ones, and that there would be no expansion of the existing road at the expense of green areas.
These events in Nalchik are part of a broader trend across urban areas of the North Caucasus. Protests against poor urban planning by local initiative groups represent one of the few remaining spaces for civic activism in the region. Most of these grassroots movements are not formally registered organisations, but rather loose initiative groups, which helps them avoid direct persecution by state authorities. Local authorities often seek to engage in dialogue with such groups and, when necessary, make concessions.
Social media campaigns and online petitions have also become popular tools of urban activism, helping to shape public opinion. As the urban population of the North Caucasus continues to grow, protests of this kind are likely to intensify, particularly as corruption and inadequate urban planning contribute to the steady reduction of green spaces.
North Ossetia
A large brawl occurred between wrestlers from Chechnya and North Ossetia during the North Caucasian Federal District Wrestling Championship held in Grozny. The incident took place during a match between Chechen wrestler Turpal Alkhoev and Ossetian wrestler David Vaniev, and began after Vaniev’s victory. The president of the Russian Wrestling Federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, stated that the referees should have intervened in a timely manner to prevent the escalation, and described the behaviour of the Chechen wrestler as provocative. In contrast, Chechnya’s Minister of Sport, Akhmat Kadyrov, downplayed the incident, describing it as minor, and claimed that it had been exaggerated by the media.
Wrestling, MMA and other martial arts play a role in the North Caucasus that goes far beyond sport. Athletes from the region have long dominated Russian national wrestling teams at various levels, and frequently represent Russia internationally, including at the Olympic Games. The leaders of North Caucasian republics pay close attention to martial arts, and seek to maintain control over sports institutions within their territories.
A successful career in combat sports also functions as an important channel of social mobility, with many prominent wrestlers later obtaining high-ranking positions in regional administrations or power structures. At the same time, wrestling in Russia is often intertwined with organised crime. In Chechnya in particular, many former wrestlers have gone on to become members of Kadyrov’s law-enforcement bodies, or have been linked to criminal networks operating across Russia.
Ingushetia
A total of 831 families of Ingush participants in the war in Ukraine will receive land plots for residential constructions. The head of Ingushetia, Mahmud-Ali Kalimatov, stated that he has received hundreds of requests from residents seeking land allocation, and that the families of combatants will be given priority. This decision is particularly significant given Ingushetia’s long-standing shortage of land suitable for residential construction, a problem that has previously led to disputes, fighting, and even shootings. According to official data, 174 residents of Ingushetia have been killed in the war in Ukraine to date.
The reintegration of veterans of the war in Ukraine has become one of the key priorities for local governments across the North Caucasus. Tens of thousands of men have received military training and combat experience in Ukraine, which is perceived as a potential threat to regional stability. Large groups of men with combat experience could form a powerful oppositional force capable of challenging the existing political order in the republics. In addition, some veterans may be vulnerable to recruitment by Islamist insurgent groups. To mitigate these risks, local authorities have been offering various incentives aimed at integrating veterans into civilian life. One such measure is the appointment of war veterans to positions within local administrations.
Chechnya
Sources from Ukraine’s military intelligence service (HUR) shared information with the media claiming a deterioration in the health of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. According to these sources, Kadyrov has allegedly developed kidney failure, is undergoing dialysis, and is currently hospitalised in Chechnya, where he is being visited by close relatives. Days after the news was released, Kadyrov publicly denied the rumours, and instructed the Ministry of National Policy, External Affairs, Media and Press to strengthen its information policy abroad. He rejected any claims of ill health, stating: “I do not have kidney disease, nor any stomach issues. The only thing I cannot tolerate is pepper. Otherwise, I am absolutely healthy.”
Rumours concerning Ramzan Kadyrov’s health have been circulating for more than two years. Numerous media reports have suggested that he is in poor health and close to kidney failure. These claims have often been reinforced by his recent public appearances, in which rapid weight gain and a noticeable lack of energy while speaking were apparent. Each time, however, Kadyrov has denied the rumours by releasing new videos. His actual condition remains a matter of speculation, as no reliable or independently verified information is available.
Dagestan
A 19-year-old conscript from Dagestan has been hospitalised with a cranio-cerebral injury. According to the official version of events, he fell from a watchtower. However, human rights activists suspect that he may have been beaten. The conscript was serving in the Voronezh region. The head of Dagestan’s Social Monitoring Commission, Shamil Khadulaev, expressed concern over the incident, and called on the Chief Military Prosecutor to conduct a thorough investigation.
Violence in the Russian army is not a new phenomenon, particularly among conscripts. The practice of dedovshchina, which involves the systematic abuse of junior conscripts, remains widespread. Recruits from the North Caucasus have often been victims of such mistreatment. However, as North Caucasian conscripts rarely file complaints—since doing so is often considered shameful—the true scale of abuse remains unknown. In the context of the war in Ukraine, the mistreatment of North Caucasian soldiers is likely to be even more severe.