GROZNY. Aug 18 (Interfax) - Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic, has flatly denied the statement by the Ukrainian military that several dozens of Chechens have surrendered to the Ukrainian authorities in the military action area.
"It's a total lie! Not a single Chechen has surrendered to the Ukrainian military in the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. Chechens never surrender anywhere," Kadyrov told reporters in the village of Germenchuk, where he took part in an ethnographic holiday, on Saturday.
"According to various sources, there are volunteers from Chechnya and other regions among the volunteers who defend civilians in the southeastern regions of Ukraine," Kadyrov said.
Responding to a question as to whether there are Chechen military men and law enforcement officials there, Kadyrov said there is not a single law enforcement official or military man from the Chechen Republic in Ukraine.
"I can also say that I have not sent anyone to Ukraine. There are people who cannot just look on as people are being killed in Ukraine and they are defending them," Kadyrov said.