SPUTNIK via AFP / Alexey NIKOLSKY
KEY POINTS
- Kadyrov made his intention clear in a post published on his Telegram channel
- Kadyrov had previously threatened to invade Poland “in six seconds” if the order was given
- Poland has conducted anti-aircraft drills with the aim of deterring potential aggressors
A key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday confirmed his intention to invade Poland next after Russia achieves victory in Ukraine.
In a post published on his Telegram channel, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Russia should “denazify and demilitarize” Poland next, adding that he “personally” has the intention to invade the country.
“As part of its support for Ukraine, Warsaw managed to deplete its own military resources, and now it is confused: what if, after the successful completion of the NMD, Russia begins to denazify and demilitarize the next country? After all, after Ukraine, Poland is on the map!” Kadyrov wrote, per translations via Google Translate.
“Frankly, I personally have such an intention, and I have repeatedly stated that the fight against Satanism should continue throughout Europe and, first of all, on the territory of Poland,” he added.
Kadyrov’s post comes on the same day as his interview with the North Caucasian republic’s National Policy, Foreign Relations, Press and Information Minister Akhmed Dudyaev, wherein he said he believes the war in Ukraine would end before late this year.
“The special [military] operation will be over before the end of this year. European countries will admit they have been wrong, the West will fall to its knees, and, as usual, European countries will have to cooperate with the Russian Federation in all spheres. There should not and will never be an alternative to that,” he said, as quoted by the Russian state news agency TASS.
It is not the first time that Russia or Kadyrov has suggested that Poland should be the next on Moscow’s list of targets. In May of last year, Kadyrov said they can invade Poland “in six seconds” if the command is given.
In June 2022, pro-Kremlin host Olga Skabeeva was quoted saying that Russia should smash Western countries after its war in Ukraine, starting with Poland.
Poland is taking the threats of a potential invasion seriously, with its military forces conducting anti-aircraft drills at the Warsaw-Babice airfield on Tuesday. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said the aim of the exercises was to deter aggressors and display the combat readiness of the Polish army.
AFP / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV
