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Squad of Chechen special forces 'hunters' is unleashed in Ukraine to detain - or kill - Kyiv officials
A squad of Chechen special forces 'hunters' has been unleashed in Ukraine to detain or kill a set of specific Ukrainian officials.
Each soldier was reportedly given a special 'deck of cards' with Ukrainian officials' photos and descriptions on them, a Moscow Telegram channel with links to the security establishment reported.
The list is of officials and security officers suspected of 'crimes' by the Russian Investigative Committee, the report added.
It came as Ukraine's president admitted he is 'target number one' for Russian assassins in his capital, while his family is 'the number two goal' for Putin's hitmen.
The Chechen squad is thought to be in a Ukrainian forest and was allegedly given an 'order to kill' if those on the wanted list could not be detained.
There is speculation those identified by Moscow as 'Nazis' would also be on the hunted list.
Putin previously said a key aim of invading Ukraine was to 'deNazify' the country.
State TV in Chechnya reported that Ramzan Kadyrov, 45, the republic's leader and a close Putin ally, had visited his forces in Ukraine.
The Chechens are believed to be from the South battalion of the Federal Guard Service, based in Chechnya.
Kadyrov yesterday met with Viktor Zolotov, director of the Federal National Guard Service and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian National Guard Forces, another close Putin ally.
Volodymyr Zelensky, 44, addressed the nation on Thursday night, at the end of the first day of the Russian invasion of his country.
The former TV comedian insisted he had remained in Kyiv as he urged his fellow citizens to stay strong.
He said he was speaking from Kyiv but the elegance of the presidential palace was long gone: Zelensky, in his olive green t-shirt, appeared to be speaking from a bunker.
Explosions were seen in Kyiv in the early hours of Friday morning as fighting continued across the country
Ukrainian President Zelensky pictured today during an urgent phone call with the President of the European Council over the shelling of a kindergarten in Stanytsia Luhanska. He told the nation on Thursday he was remaining in the capital of Kyiv and 'staying with my people'
President Zelensky has also expressed his anger at Western rulers after his country was 'left alone' to face Russian troops as officials warn that Kyiv will be seized by this weekend.
He called his fallen compatriots 'heroes' after 137 were killed on the first day of fighting, and insisted he will stay until the bitter end.
He said: 'They're killing people and turning peaceful cities into military targets. It's foul and will never be forgiven.
'We have been left alone to defend our state. Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone.
'Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.'
He said they believed Russian special forces were already in the capital.
'We also have information that sabotage groups of the enemy have entered Kyiv,' he said.
'That's why I am urging Kyivites: be careful, follow the rules of curfew. I remain in the government quarter together with all those who are necessary for the work of the central government.'
Ukrainian soldiers are pictured forming up across a highway in Kyiv as they prepare to defend the city from Russian attackers, with gunfire and explosions heard in the centre of the capital
Ukrainian soldiers take position on a bridge inside the city of Kyiv, as Russian forces advance into the capital
Ukrainian soldiers take up positions in downtown Kyiv as the prepare to defend the capital from Russian attackers
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