Russian colonel shot in the head and killed by Vladimir Putin's warlords in Chechnya

Kadyrov’s soldiers shot dead Atmurzaev in Chechnya

A Russian colonel has been shot in the head by his own men after he was targeted by Vladimir Putin’s warlords.

Lieutenant Colonel Albert Atmurzaev, 39 was killed by men loyal to the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, according to reports.

The killing took place in Chechnya’s capital city of Grozny.

Kadyrov is said to be gathering a huge private army to help Putin’s soldiers in Ukraine.

Atmurzaev was killed by guardsmen when he was driving past the Akhmat-Arena stadium.

Kadyrov is a key ally of Putin in Russia

When he failed to stop, the men fired warning shots before shooting him in the head.

Putin is reportedly poised to rely more on the support of Kadyrov’s Chechen soldiers.

It is said that they will take up the role of the Wagner Group after their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died last year in what many saw as an assassination by Putin.

Putin said Prigozhin’s death came after grenades were set off on the plane carrying Prigozhin and his colleagues.

Kadyrov has proved to be a crucial ally for Putin in recent years.

Kadyrov with his 15 year old son Adam

The Chechen leader has also placed a number of his family members in high-ranking postions in Chechnya.

His 24-year-old daughter, Khadizhat Kadyrova, is the latest to be given a position. She was appointed as deputy chief of Kadyrov’s administration.

Another of his daughters, Aishat, 25, was appointed as deputy prime minister of Chechnya in October.

His eldest son, Akhmat, 18, was given the role of deputy minister of sport and youth policy in November.

Kadyrov’s son-in-law Viskhan Matsuev, 26, Aishat’s husband, is agriculture minister. His brother-in-law, Ramzan Cherkhigov, 56, is the minister of transport; and his nephew, Khamzat, 27, was made an adviser to Kadyrov on security issues last year.

It was reported in November that Kadyrov is lining up his 15-year-old son Adam as a successor to rule in Chechnya.

Adam was praised at the time for beating up a prisoner accused of desecrating the Koran.

Ben Noble, associate professor of Russian politics at University College London, told the Telegraph: “Ramzan Kadyrov is bolstering support for his family with the possible prospect that he may be seriously ill.”

Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russia, added: “Kadyrov is having to contemplate a future in which either he’s not around or has had to step back from power.”