Situational Assessment - Sheik Mansur Battalion: Chenchen Force Multiplier for Ukraine
By: Olivia Gibson
This assessment is the first in a series that will explore the various Chechen volunteer battalions actively engaged in providing combat support for Ukrainians in the war against Russia. The involvement of anti-Russian Chechen battalions in Ukraine will certainly impact Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian aggression, given the notorious brutality and combat expertise of the Chechen groups. Open-source intelligence reveals that the Sheik Mansur Battalion, a prominent jihadist organization with strong anti-Russian sentiments, has been operating in Ukraine since at least March 2022. With the influx of a number of extremist organizations, many experts fear that the conflict in Ukraine is quickly becoming a hub for transnational terror. Thus, close monitoring of this organization and its activities is highly recommended as it is likely that the violence and instability in the region will escalate.
Key Judgements
The involvement of Chechen fighters in the Ukrainian conflict will almost certainly encourage the escalation of violence, with a high probability of increased casualties among civilians and combatants alike.
The participation of Chechen fighters in the conflict is likely to exacerbate the already tense relationship between Chechnya and Russia, with a high probability of increased hostility and the possibility of direct military confrontation. This could in turn lead to a higher degree of discrimination against the Chechen population living in Russia.
There is a high probability that the involvement of Chechen fighters will have unintended consequences, such as the strengthening of transnational extremist groups and/or the spread of radical ideology as international radical organizations find themselves fighting side by side with the susceptible Ukrainian population and other extremist groups.
Historical Background
The involvement of Chechen fighters in conflicts around the world has been a source of concern and controversy for many years due to their notorious violence, brutality, and unwavering commitment to their goal of destroying Russia. The recent reports of Chechens acting as force multipliers in Ukraine’s fight against Russia have significant implications not just for the immediate conflict, but for the wider region and the world at large. The inclusion of Chechen fighters has the potential to escalate violence, further undermine political stability, and lead to unintended consequences such as the spread of extremism and/or wider humanitarian suffering. Gaining an understanding of the implications of such involvement and the complex dynamics at play is essential for analyzing the evolving security landscape.
Chechen fighters have a long and complex history of involvement in both direct and proxy conflicts against Russia. In the 1990s, Chechnya waged a war for independence from Russia, known as the First Chechen War, which lasted from 1994 to 1996. During this conflict, Chechen fighters, led by separatist leader Dzhokhar Dudayev, engaged in a guerrilla-style war against Russian forces. Although the war ended in a ceasefire, tensions remained high, and in 1999, the Second Chechen War broke out. This time, the conflict was more intense, with Russian forces using heavy firepower to crush the separatist movement. Chechen fighters responded with suicide bombings, assassinations, and other acts of terrorism. Although the Second Chechen War officially ended in 2009, violence and instability have continued in the region, with Chechen fighters playing a significant role in ongoing conflicts and insurgencies in other parts of the world including Syria and Iraq. While the motivations for their involvement in these global campaigns are complex, they can often be traced back to a desire to throw off the yoke of Russian imperialism, spread the ideals of Islamic fundamentalism, and establish autonomy for the Republic of Ichkeria (Chechnya).
Sheik Mansur Battalion Background
The Sheikh Mansur Chechen Peacekeeping Battalion (or simply the Sheikh Mansur Battalion) is one of several force multiplying Chechen volunteer forces engaged in the fighting against Russia in Ukraine. The battalion is named after Sheik Mansur, a Chechen military commander and Islamic leader who led a resistance movement in the North Caucasus against Russian imperialism during the 18th Century. Many leaders within the Sheik Mansur organization were children during the Chechen wars. The violence and brutality that surrounded them had a significant impact on shaping their values and beliefs. As such, the group views Russia as their ultimate enemy and is committed to fighting anyone that supports Russia’s agenda, most notably Ramzan Khadrov’s forces (known as Kadrovyites) sent to fight on behalf of Russia.
The battalion was established in 2014 with the primary mission of providing combat support in the Eastern Ukraine conflict. By 2019 the organization had disarmed and withdrawn from the region. In March 2022 the group deployed to Kyiv to engage in offensive operations during the early stages of the invasion of Ukraine, because, ultimately, the Battalion views the conflict as a continuation of the war in Chechnya; an opportunity to support a nation and people that share a common enemy. The group is known to have fought in the Battle of Mariupol but returned to Kyiv not long after. From September to November 2022 the group engaged Russian forces on the Zaporizhzhian front. The group also participated in the Battle of Soledar and appears to still be active in Bakmut.
(Source)
Command Structure
Although the group works closely with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Sheik Mansur Battalion remains outside the traditional military structure. While some elements of the organization’s hierarchy are public, much of it remains hidden.
Tactics
The Sheik Mansur Battalion is known to engage in asymmetrical guerrilla-style warfare well-suited for urban combat, honed during the Chechen Wars and other global campaigns. More specifically, the Sheik Mansur prefers to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage operations on the front lines, prioritizing mobility and avoiding trenches. Another prominent tactic is the prominent use of social media. The Sheik Mansur Battalion maintains a strong presence on Youtube and two Telegram channels, one specific for aerial reconnaissance.
Equipment
As the Sheik Mansur Battalion is a volunteer organization that is not officially integrated into Ukraine’s Armed Forces, the organization supports itself through donations and volunteers. For this reason, a strong presence on social media serves multiple purposes. It aids in radicalization and recruitment efforts as well as helps attract donors. Additionally, the group relies heavily on the use of drones for aerial reconnaissance.
Image 1: (image retrieved via Telegram). Translation: We thank the charitable organizations "Vartovi Zhittia" and "Szaliki" for their assistance to the Aerial Reconnaissance of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion, in the form of a generator and several flash drives
Image 2: Drone purchased for aerial reconnaissance on April 26, 2023
Weapons
Cannibalized BM21 Град MRS, Surface-to-surface air rocket, (Source)
SPG-9 “Spear”, a Recoilless Soviet gun designed to engage tanks and armored vehicles, (Source)
MK-19 AGL, Automatic grenade launcher, ideal for suppressing distant targets, (Source)
RPG-7, Designed to target armored vehicles, is ideal for urban environments, (Source)
NLAW, British-made anti-tank weapon, (Source)
Symbology
Image 1: The current symbol of the battalion depicts Sheik Mansur, an 18th-century Chechen commander, placed above the flag of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (Source)
Image 2: Former symbol of the battalion depicts an ancient Chechen tower popular during the Medieval times built for defense. Chechens believe these towers bear sacred spiritual symbols of their builders and the families that financed their construction (Source)
Summary
The Sheik Mansour Battalion plays an important role in the fight against Russia as they are a prominent fighting group with high levels of lethal proficiency and resolute objectives. Given the dynamic situation in Ukraine, it is crucial to closely monitor organizations like the Sheik Mansur Battalion. The group plans to fight for Chechnya’s independence once the war in Ukraine ends. Thus, close monitoring of this group and those like it is critical, as further destabilization in the region is highly probable.