Power struggle brews in Chechnya over Kadyrov's serious illness

In Chechnya, uncertainty is growing around the future of the government amid reports of the serious health condition of the republic's head, Ramzan Kadyrov. According to Western and Ukrainian sources, the 49-year-old leader, who has been in charge of the region since 2007 and has repeatedly called himself a foot soldier of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has serious problems with his pancreas and kidneys. This is reported by The Public with reference to The Times.

Lately, Kadyrov has hardly been seen in public. The last time he was seen was over a week ago, when he looked exhausted and was walking with a cane. Russian opposition media reported that in late December he was hospitalised in Moscow during a trip to a state council meeting, but the Kremlin and Grozny officially denied this information. At the same time, Kadyrov himself spoke publicly about rumours of his short life as late as the end of 2025.

According to Ukraine News Agency, citing sources in Ukrainian intelligence, Kadyrov is currently undergoing dialysis treatment in a private clinic in Chechnya. It is reported that members of his clan, including relatives from other countries, have come to the hospital. Earlier, Ukrainian authorities had already announced Kadyrov's critical condition in 2023, but these predictions were not confirmed.

The issue of succession is a key one for both Kadyrov and the Kremlin. Chechnya remains an unstable region that has fought for independence twice since the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to journalists, about 100 members of the Kadyrov family hold positions in the republic's government. This is the largest concentration of family influence among Russia's regional elites.

Kadyrov, according to Western media, is promoting his 18-year-old son Adam, who has been promoted to a number of formal positions, including in the security system, in recent months. Another son, Akhmat Kadyrov, was recently appointed deputy head of the Chechen government and already heads several departments.

At the same time, Moscow is considering alternative candidates. Among the possible successors are military commander Apti Alaudinov and State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov, who are considered to be more controlled by the federal security forces.

Analysts note that Kadyrov's deteriorating health coincides with the weakening of the Kremlin's position in the international arena and could provoke a reformatting of the government in Chechnya. At the same time, Moscow is unlikely to allow uncontrolled transit in an attempt to maintain stability in the strategically important North Caucasus region.

Source and photo The Times.

Kadyrov, Caucasus, Russia, Putin