Kadyrov: settlements will return to Russian control

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has criticised the Russian army’s performance after the "loss" over the weekend of Izyum, a critical supply hub in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv province.

In an 11-minute-long voice message posted to the Telegram messaging app on Saturday, he conceded the campaign was not going to plan.

 “If today or tomorrow changes are not made in the conduct of the special military operation, I will be forced to go to the country’s leadership to explain to them the situation on the ground,” Kadyrov, the  leader of Chechnya, said.

“I’m not a strategist like those in the defence ministry. But it’s clear that mistakes were made. I think they will draw a few conclusions,” Novaya Gazeta Europe quoted him as saying, adding that all settlements will return to Russian control.

“We have our men out there, fighters prepared specifically for such situations. 10,000 more fighters are ready to join them. We’ll reach Odesa in the nearest future.”