Introduction
Among the key events of the past two weeks in the North Caucasus was the circulation of rumors about a car accident involving Ramzan Kadyrov’s son, Adam Kadyrov. Despite the absence of any confirmation from official sources, these rumors once again brought the issue of power succession in Chechnya to the fore. In addition, the region was subjected to Ukrainian drone attacks, which resulted in civilian casualties in North Ossetia and Adyghea.
Adyghea
On 21 January, Ukrainian drones reached the town of Novaya Adyghea in the Tahtamukay district of the Republic of Adyghea and struck apartment blocks in a residential area. According to official reports, one local resident was killed and eleven others, including two children, were injured. As a result of the drone attack, at least 30 houses were damaged and up to 29 residents were evacuated and temporarily resettled in emergency shelters. Local authorities are currently overseeing reconstruction and assistance efforts in the affected area.
The drone strike on the residential area appears to have been collateral damage rather than the primary goal: The intended target was the Volna seaport terminal, a key hub for Russia’s foreign trade, which was also hit during the attack.
Notably, the incident did not trigger a reaction among Circassian activists. This can largely be explained by the demographic profile of Novaya Adyghea, which is populated predominantly by ethnic Russians. Owing to its proximity to the city of Krasnodar, the settlement has been experiencing rapid growth, largely driven by internal migration from other Russian regions, thereby increasing the proportion of ethnic Russians within the Republic of Adyghea.
Karachaevo-Cherkessia
Teachers, pupils, and parents of the Khabez public school collected medicines and hygiene items to be donated to the Russian army involved in the war in Ukraine. The donations were handed over to the volunteer initiative group Rodnyye Serdtsa. The school’s director, Irina Khapsirokova, emphasized the importance of a patriotic upbringing among pupils, and said that such initiatives play a key role in fostering a sense of contribution to a “greater goal” – the defense of the homeland – while also instilling patriotic values, respect for history and culture, love for one’s neighbor, and a willingness to help others. Khabez is a large settlement predominantly populated by ethnic Circassians.
This local initiative forms part of a broader trend across Russia’s non-Russian-majority regions aimed at cultivating patriotism and the sacralization of Russian soldiers participating in the invasion of Ukraine. Such initiatives carry particular significance in the North Caucasus, especially among Circassians.
It should be noted that the Russian media space actively marginalizes Circassian historical memory, and largely ignores the mass expulsion of Circassians in the nineteenth century, with state-supported educational and civic programs placing strong emphasis on Russian patriotism.
Kabardino-Balkaria
An ethnic Circassian businessman originally from Nalchik, Artur Zhakamukhov, who had resided in the United States since 2022, was arrested upon his arrival in Moscow, charged with supporting terrorism. During his time in the U.S., Zhakamukhov reportedly participated in anti-Putin demonstrations on multiple occasions, and frequently shared anti-Kremlin content on his social media accounts. Prior to leaving Russia, he owned and operated a restaurant in the town of Balashikha.
Zhakamukhov’s case is not the first instance of the arrest of a returning immigrant from the United States. In 2024, Timur Kishukov, a U.S. citizen of Circassian origin, was detained in Nalchik while visiting his family on holiday. According to reports, he was coerced by law enforcement into confessing that he had participated in the war in Syria and had worked for U.S. intelligence services. More broadly, Russian security agencies have intensified pressure and punitive measures against anti-Putin activists abroad. In some cases, these measures appear to be applied more harshly to ethnic Circassians, particularly those residing in the United States, given that one of the main centers of Circassian activism—focused on the recognition of the Circassian genocide and environmental protests against the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics—is based in New York.
North Ossetia
Fragments of Ukrainian drones intercepted by Russian air defense fell on a five-story apartment building in the city of Beslan. The impact caused a fire, prompting the evacuation of around 70 local residents. Four people, including two children, were injured, while the remaining residents were later able to return to their apartments. According to preliminary estimates, the incident caused damage amounting to approximately 10 million rubles. Local authorities have promised to restore the damaged apartments.
Ukrainian drone attacks on the North Caucasus have become increasingly frequent, with North Ossetia emerging as a particularly notable target. The republic hosts several key Russian military facilities, including the headquarters of the 58th Army, which is actively involved in the war in Ukraine. Moreover, unlike many other North Caucasian republics, North Ossetia has a critical mass of population that is widely perceived as loyal to the Russian state and supportive of Vladimir Putin’s administration, including its policy toward the invasion of Ukraine.
Ingushetia
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the abolition of the Council of Teips of the Ingush People was unlawful. The Court found that Russian courts had applied an excessively broad interpretation of extremism legislation and failed to properly assess the proportionality of the punishment. It also stated that the decision was politically motivated and not supported by sufficient or credible evidence. As a result, the Court ordered compensation of €7,500 be paid to the organization. The Council of Teips was established in 2016 and played an active role in organizing and supporting protests against the transfer of Ingush lands to Chechnya.
Organizations involved in the protests in Ingushetia have been subjected to systematic persecution and crackdowns by Russian law enforcement agencies. Several prominent activists were imprisoned, while others were forced to flee Russia. The protests in Ingushetia were unique in the contemporary Russian context: since the Bolotnaya protests, no other opposition movement in Russia has managed to organize demonstrations of comparable duration and scale.
Chechnya
According to circulating rumors, on 16 January, Ramzan Kadyrov’s 18-year-old son Adam Kadyrov was injured in a car accident in Grozny. Very little is known about the circumstances of the incident. According to the NIYSO Telegram channel, Kadyrov’s motorcade was driving at high speed through the city when it collided with another vehicle. The driver of the other car reportedly died at the scene. One of Kadyrov’s bodyguards sustained serious injuries, while Adam Kadyrov himself allegedly suffered less severe injuries, but was nevertheless transported to Moscow for further medical treatment.
The Chechen authorities and pro-government media have denied that the incident took place, and have refrained from providing any official information. Some outlets published footage allegedly showing Adam Kadyrov in good health; however, critics argue that these videos may have been recorded earlier and thus do not necessarily reflect his current condition.
The reported car accident involving Adam Kadyrov once again brings the issue of power transition in Chechnya to the fore. Persistent rumors about Ramzan Kadyrov’s deteriorating health have revived discussions about potential successors. Ramzan Kadyrov himself has been actively promoting his son Adam in the public sphere; however, Adam is not widely regarded as a realistic candidate to succeed his father. First, he is very young, which makes it highly unlikely that he would be able to maintain control over Chechnya in the event of Ramzan Kadyrov’s sudden departure. Second, his limited public appearances and speeches have raised doubts among observers about his level of education and political maturity, which are seen as insufficient for governing a highly securitized and clan-based republic. Finally, persistent rumors and scandals surrounding Adam Kadyrov’s personal life, actively circulated by critics of the regime, have further undermined his legitimacy and reduced his prospects as a viable successor within Chechnya’s conservative and power-driven political environment.
Dagestan
The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, posted a photograph of himself shaking hands with Dagestani senator and billionaire Suleyman Kerimov, referring to him as his “brother” in the caption. However, their relationship in 2024 was far from harmonious. During the conflict surrounding the Wildberries company, Kadyrov publicly stated that he was prepared to declare a blood feud against Kerimov. This escalation followed the release of a video in which two Dagestani men claimed they were allegedly plotting Kadyrov’s assassination—an incident widely interpreted as part of the broader confrontation between the two camps. In this context, the publication of the photograph can be seen as a symbolic gesture of reconciliation between the Chechen and Dagestani political heavyweights, signaling a temporary de-escalation of tensions.
Relations between Ramzan Kadyrov and various Dagestani authorities and local strongmen have long been tense. One of the most well-known examples is Kadyrov’s conflict with Saigidpasha Umakhanov, the former mayor of Khasavyurt, a city located near the administrative border between Chechnya and Dagestan. Kadyrov accused Umakhanov of supporting jihadi groups in Chechnya, and even threatened to conduct a counter-terrorist operation on the territory of Dagestan. Such tensions stem from two main factors. First, competition for financial resources between Chechen and Dagestani elite networks and clans frequently spills into the public sphere through rhetorical escalation and personal attacks by regional leaders. Second, unresolved territorial disputes remain significant, particularly Chechnya’s claims over parts of Dagestan’s Novolaksky district, which is populated by ethnic Chechens.