A large group of former Russian mercenary group Wagner has begun training with the special forces of Chechnya, a southern region of Russia, the Chechen leader said today Ramzan Kadyrov.

Kadyrov stated in a message on the Telegram application that a large group of mercenaries of the former Wagner intensively training with his own special forces Ahmad.

“I am glad that today the ranks of the famous unit (Ahmad) have been joined by fighters who have excellent combat experience and have proven themselves to be brave and effective fighters.”

“I am confident that in the coming battles they will fully live up to their reputation.”

Kadyrov released a video, with background music, showing soldiers in combat training, some bearing Wagner’s insignia on their uniforms and face masks. Kadyrov said the exercises include shooting, battlefield medical services and training for snipers, machine gunners and rescuers.

It is not clear how many of Wagner’s men are involved or whether any of them will stay on Chechen forces after training is completed.

Wagner played an important role in some of the fiercest battles of Russia’s war in Ukraine, but its future was in doubt after its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in August, two months after he led a brief rebellion against the Russian defense establishment. .

After his death Prigozhin, the Kremlin dismissed as “absolute lies” claims that he had been killed on the orders of President Vladimir Putin to punish him for the June mutiny. Russia has not yet released the results of the investigation into the fatal plane crash.

Putin then proceeded to bring Wagner’s militants under state control, ordering them to sign an oath of allegiance, and the Kremlin has repeatedly declared that the group does not exist as a legal entity.