Caucasian Knot

07/08/2025

Recognized losses of southern Russia in Ukraine reach 7,150.

As of August 7, the number of servicemen from the south of Russia whom government officials have publicly acknowledged as killed in combat in Ukraine is at least 7,150, according to the "Caucasian Knot" calculations. There are 3,600 killed combatants in the Southern Federal District, and 3,550 in the North Caucasus Federal District.

Dagestan remains the leader in the number of those killed in the North Caucasus Federal District, with at least 1,492. Stavropol Krai accounts for 782 killed servicemen, and North Ossetia for 470. In Kabardino-Balkaria, 280 fighters have been publicly acknowledged as killed1, in Chechnya – 2422, in Karachay-Cherkessia - 144, in Ingushetia - 140.

In the Southern Federal District, the largest number of killed (1280) is in the Volgograd Region. Krasnodar Krai accounts for 776 killed soldiers, Rostov Oblast - 702. Astrakhan Oblast authorities named 586 killed soldiers, Kalmykia authorities - 167, and officials in Adygea - 89.

Recall that the first government representative to report that a Russian soldier was killed in the SVO zone was the head of Dagestan Sergey Melikov. On February 26, 2022, he reported that officer Nurmagomed Gadzimagomedov was killed in Ukraine.

The head of Chechnya, unlike the leaders of a number of other regions, extremely rarely reports data on losses at the front. Moreover, in February 2023, Ramzan Kadyrov said that regional leaders should not report data on the number of deaths in Ukraine, calling for "no comment on losses," although he himself had previously reported the deaths of Chechen fighters.

The unevenness of the data published by the authorities on the deaths of Chechens in Ukraine against the backdrop of reports of the extremely active participation of people from the republic in the fighting makes one doubt that the official information on Chechen losses corresponds to reality. In addition, the quantitative assessment of these losses is complicated by the scarcity of data on the dead: the Chechen authorities name those who are awarded posthumously or immortalized in their native settlements, according to the Caucasian Knot article "North Caucasian security forces have already died in the SVO in 2 years, 4 times more than in the conflict in the North Caucasus over the past 12 years".

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Official authorities and representatives of security agencies have released data on 7,150 servicemen from the south of Russia killed in combat operations in Ukraine, of which 3,600 were in the Southern Federal District and 3,550 in the North Caucasus Federal District.

07/08/2025

Aslan Kambiev's relatives did not agree with the defendant's acquittal.

The Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria ignored the testimony of witnesses in the case of the murder of athlete Aslan Kambiev, acquitting the defendant Ruslan Kudayev and recognizing his right to rehabilitation. Kambiev's relatives intend to file a cassation appeal, but cannot obtain documents from the court.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on February 24, the Nalchik City Court found a resident of the village of Psygansu, Ruslan Kudayev, guilty in the case of the murder of the famous athlete Aslan Kambiev. Kudayev wasfound guilty under Article 108 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (murder in excess of the limits of necessary defense) and released from punishment (1 year 10 months of restriction of freedom) due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution. He was also acquitted of the charge of illegal acquisition of fi****ms (Part 1 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). In June, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria acquitted Kudayev.

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The Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria ignored the testimony of witnesses in the case of the murder of athlete Aslan Kambiev, acquitting the defendant Ruslan Kudayev and recognizing his right to rehabilitation. Kambiev's relatives intend to file a cassation appeal, but they cannot obtain documents....

07/08/2025

Satellite images show pollution in waters near Anapa.

Satellite images covering the area where parts of the tankers with fuel oil sank show pollution of the water area with oil products, including near Taman.

"Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote that from July 25 to 29, the authorities did not record new emissions of fuel oil on the coast of Anapa, the authorities said. Volunteers, in turn, claim that emissions continue. On August 2, they called on those willing to help them with their work. On August 4, the volunteer headquarters confirmed that local emissions of oil products continue on the beaches of Taman. Over the past week in Anapa no new emissions of fuel oil were recorded, as well as during the previous week, the Kuban operational headquarters said on August 5.

An analysis of July images from two satellites from the area of the sinking of the emergency tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 was published in his Telegram channel by ecologist Zhora Kavanosyan. The images were provided by RiskSat.

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Satellite images of the area where parts of the fuel oil tankers sank show pollution of the waters with oil products, including near Taman.

07/08/2025

Kuban pensioners have achieved the return of the case to the district court.

The Krasnodar Regional Court granted the appeal of pensioners accused of creating an illegal armed group to transfer their case to a military court and returned the case to the court of first instance. The defendants' relatives called this decision a victory, and the defense intends to seek the return of the case to the prosecutor.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, pensioners Nikolai Nabiyev, Sergei Kuzovenko, and Marina Zakharova, accused of creating an illegal armed group, complained of health problems in the pretrial detention center. Relatives said that they learn about their condition from lawyers, and the accused are not allowed to meet with their relatives. According to a witness, the defendants were involved in public activities, and were unfoundedly accused of creating an illegal armed group. In April, the prosecutor requested 11 to 12.5 years of imprisonment for the defendants. The defendants refused to admit guilt. On June 6, the Uspensky District Court of the Krasnodar Territory did not issue a verdict and transferred the case to the Southern District Military Court. Kuzovenko and Zakharova appealed this decision.

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/67048

07/08/2025

Musayeva refused to appeal the verdict due to lack of faith in the court.

Musaeva will not appeal the verdict in the new case, as she does not believe in a fair decision and it is physically difficult for her to be in a pretrial detention center. The decision on the place where Musaeva will serve her sentence must be made by the FSIN Directorate for Chechnya.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, the prosecution demanded that Musaeva be sentenced to four years in a penal colony for the case of disorganization of the work of a penal colony. The prosecution's version of Zarema Musaeva's attack on a penal colony employee is based only on his testimony; witnesses did not confirm her guilt, the defense stated, demanding that the defendant be acquitted. In her final statement, Musayeva refused to admit guilt and asked not to be sent to the penal colony where she served her first sentence, since she fears for her life. The Shali Court of Chechnya sentenced Zarema Musayeva to three years and 11 months in prison.

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/67046

06/08/2025

Five soldiers from Kalmykia killed in Ukraine.

Konstantin Mitin, Vladimir Kayshanov, Denis Pichuzhkin, Ubush Sandzhigoryaev and Turab Gadzhikurbanov were killed in combat. Since the start of the Russian operation in Ukraine, the authorities have officially recognized at least 167 servicemen from Kalmykia as killed there.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, by July 31, the authorities and security forces recognized at least 162 fighters from Kalmykia as killed in the military operation in Ukraine.

The names of five servicemen from Kalmykia killed in Ukraine were announced today by the administration of the Lagansky District of the republic, reporting on the presentation of posthumous awards to their relatives.

Konstantin Mitin, Vladimir Kayshanov, Denis Pichuzhkin, Ubush Sandzhigoryaev and Turab Gadzhikurbanov were awarded the Order of Courage posthumously, according to a message on the official Telegram channel of the municipality. The officials' message does not provide biographical information about the soldiers.

Thus, at least 167 fighters from Kalmykia have been officially recognized as killed in the war zone in Ukraine. "Caucasian Knot" maintains a list of names of natives of the North Caucasus and Southern Federal Districts killed in the military operation. The list was compiled based on data officially announced by government officials and law enforcement agencies, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Statistics of the SVO: losses are growing for the south of Russia".

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/67025

06/08/2025

Relatives concerned about condition of 90-year-old teacher from Dinskaya after teenagers accuse him.

The health of a 90-year-old resident of Kuban, whom teenagers accused of indecent acts due to relieving himself behind a tree, has deteriorated significantly due to the persecution. On August 6, the man will undergo an examination for "the presence of pe******ia," which, according to lawyers, is not objective.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, teenagers in Kuban accused a 90-year-old pensioner of indecent acts, who was relieving himself near his dacha. The man is blind in one eye and has only 10 percent vision in the other, he insists that he did not see the teenagers on the pier 20 meters away from him. According to the lawyer, the pensioner faced pressure and threats, and investigators forced him to admit guilt.

The investigation sent the 90-year-old retired teacher for an outpatient (without hospitalization) psychological and sexological examination, which is scheduled to begin on August 6. According to the investigation, this examination should confirm the question of the "presence of pe******ia" in the accused. According to his relatives, the elderly man, suffering from severe diseases of the genitourinary system, became the victim of an absurd slander of a group of teenagers who mistook his forced urination in a secluded place for "lewd acts."

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/67028

06/08/2025

Former head of the Karachay-Cherkessia government accused of organizing a criminal community.

The case of former head of the government of Karachay-Cherkessia Vladimir Kayshev, who is accused of organizing and leading a criminal community, which also included his brother, has been transferred to the court in Stavropol Krai for consideration.

The case of former head of the government of Karachay-Cherkessia Vladimir Kayshev, who is accused of organizing and leading a criminal community, has been transferred to the Mineralovodsky Court of Stavropol Krai for consideration.

His brother Yuri Kayshev, as well as former head of the Pyatigorsk Dairy Plant Konstantin Sukharev and former director of the Department of Social and Economic Development are also involved in the case. North Caucasus Federal District, Ministry of Economic Development Igor Khranovsky, the press service of the Stavropol Territory Prosecutor's Office reported on August 5 in its official community on the social network "VKontakte".

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/67032

06/08/2025

Ukrainian citizens go on hunger strike at Georgian border checkpoint.

Five Ukrainian citizens have been at the Georgian checkpoint "Dariali" for a long time. According to them, 97 people live in the basement, they are not allowed into the country. The hunger strikers demanded that the Ukrainian consul be allowed to see them, that they be given the opportunity to leave Georgia or apply for international protection.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, at the end of June, volunteers reported that there are 57 people awaiting identity checks on the Russian-Georgian border, including Ukrainian citizens.

Five Ukrainian citizens who are in the basement of the Georgian border checkpoint "Dariali" have declared an indefinite hunger strike, "Georgia-online" wrote on August 5, citing one of the hunger strikers, Sergei Larko, who has been living on the border of Russia and Georgia for about a month.

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/67033

06/08/2025

FSB names Magomedov as involved in the theft of Dagnefteprodukt from the state

The investigation has established the involvement of former Secretary of State of Dagestan Magomed-Sultan Magomedov in the theft of Dagnefteprodukt from the state. Property worth 3 billion rubles was seized from him and other defendants in the fraud case.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on June 25, security forces detained Secretary of State of Dagestan Magomed-Sultan Magomedov, whose addresses had been searched since the morning of the same day. Sources reported that searches were also conducted at the addresses of Magomedov's relatives in Dagestan and Moscow. On June 26, it also became known that the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation filed a civil lawsuit against Magomedov and his relatives in the Sovietsky District Court of Makhachkala. Magomedov was released on bail. The Soviet District Court of Makhachkala ruled to nationalize his oil transshipment complex and related companies, whose property had previously been seized. Two Moscow apartments belonging to Magomedov's relatives were also seized. On July 1, it became known that Magomedov had been dismissed from the post of State Secretary of Dagestan.

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/67038

06/08/2025

Kadyrov demanded to actively search for authors of objectionable publications.

At a regular meeting with his subordinates, the head of Chechnya ordered “to step up efforts” to identify people “spreading slander and disinformation” on social networks and messengers.

"Caucasian Knot" wrote that at the end of July in Grozny, at the request of the authorities, four women's clothing stores were closed due to inappropriate advertising on social networks. The authorities promised to open them if the owners delete the inappropriate publications.

The demand to more actively identify the authors of publications that Ramzan Kadyrov finds undesirable was voiced at an extended meeting dedicated to the “socioeconomic situation in the region.” Although the head of the Chechen Interior Ministry Aslan Iriskhanov reported a “stable and controlled” situation, the head of the republic considered the security forces’ work with critical information on social networks to be insufficiently active.

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At a regular meeting with his subordinates, the head of Chechnya ordered “to step up efforts” to identify people “spreading slander and disinformation” on social networks and messengers.

05/08/2025

Analysts question the effectiveness of the commission investigating Russian sanctions in Abkhazia.

The commission for the investigation of Russian sanctions, created under the parliament of Abkhazia, will rather deal with the activities of former president Aslan Bzhania, but one can hardly expect serious results. Its creation is a PR move by the opposition, an attempt to remind people of itself ahead of the local elections.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, on July 30 it became known that a commission to investigate Russian sanctions against a number of deputies and journalists was created in the Abkhaz parliament.

More: https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/67008