(GROZNY, CHECHNYA) – Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has issued a belligerent threat of a “harsh response” against Ukraine following a drone attack that struck the Grozny City skyscraper complex, which houses numerous government offices in the Chechen capital. Mr Kadyrov’s statement, delivered via his Telegram channel, promised that Ukrainians would “feel a harsh response” starting on the Saturday following the strike and continuing throughout the week.
He characterised the strike on the high-rise buildings in central Grozny as being “senseless,” lacking “any tactical sense and no logic.” The Chechen ruler went on to allege that striking “at the weak and unprotected” was the “essence of Ukrainian fascists,” claiming the action would further turn the civilian population against what he termed “Ukronazis.”
He asserted that the Chechen people could not be intimidated and confirmed there were no casualties, adding that the damaged building would be repaired. Crucially, Mr Kadyrov contrasted his anticipated retaliation with the drone strike, stating, “we, unlike them, will not launch cowardly strikes on civilian targets,” but would instead direct attacks at military targets.
This latest incident, where a drone attack caused a powerful explosion and damaged the facade of several upper floors of the Grozny-City skyscraper, hit a highly symbolic target. The affected tower is known to contain government agencies, including the Chechen Security Council, the Ministry of Tourism, the Accounts Chamber, and other administrative bodies. The event comes amidst persistent and unverified reports concerning Mr Kadyrov’s personal health.
Russian opposition media outlets have repeatedly suggested that his health has sharply deteriorated, claiming he is currently on intravenous drips and has rarely appeared in public. Allegedly, this is why his annual direct line with residents, a major public event, was postponed, although the precise nature of his alleged illness remains publicly unknown.
The threat of retaliation also follows earlier inflammatory comments made by Mr Kadyrov in support of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. On 4 December 2025, Mr Kadyrov publicly endorsed the Russian dictator’s sceptical stance on war with Europe, stating that he and his forces would “definitely not stand on ceremony” and were simply “waiting for the order.”
He declared that any potential conflict would end “very quickly and definitely not in favour of those who decided to start a war with Russia,” while sarcastically asking if the Russian dictator would be “offended by us if they immediately VOLUNTARILY start apologizing.”
The Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, had previously stated that European peace proposals were unacceptable for Russia, adding that while Russia had no intention of fighting with European countries, it was ready for war if Europe initiated it. Following these remarks, NATO responded to the threats, with a diplomat characterising the Kremlin’s statements about readiness to fight Europe as unrealistic.
