Putin ramps up nuclear threat by promoting warlord Ramzan Kadyrov to GENERAL after he demanded Russia nuke Ukraine
VLADIMIR Putin has promoted top ally Ramzan Kadyrov, who demanded nuclear weapons be used on Ukraine, to the rank of general.
The appointment raises the terrifying spectre of crazed warlord with a reputation for extreme violence who’s vocally called for the use of nukes being at the top of the Russian military.
The 46-year-old Chechen - notorious for inflicting medieval torture on opponents - is a vocal supporter of the Russian tyrant’s war in Ukraine.
He has also sent own sinister militia known as Kadyrovtsy are fighting alongside regular Russian forces in Ukraine and even said he was sending his teenage sons there to join them.
Kadyrov said Putin has personally told him of his promotion to colonel general, Russia’s third highest military rank, which he said was a “huge honour” for him.
"The President of Russia awarded me the rank of colonel general. This is a promotion for me."
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He added that he would do "everything to end the special military operation quickly" - using the Kremlin's term for its Ukraine campaign.
Following Russia’s recent humiliating defeats he chillingly said Moscow should now consider using a low-yield nuclear weapon in Ukraine.
"In my personal opinion, more drastic measures should be taken, right up to the declaration of martial law in the border areas and the use of low-yield nuclear weapons,” he said.
Russia has the world's largest atomic arsenal - including low-yield tactical nuclear weapons designed to be deployed against opposing armies.
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Other top Putin allies, including former president Dmitry Medvedev, have suggested Russia may need to resort to nuclear weapons - but Kadyrov's call was the most urgent and explicit.
Bizarre images released earlier this week showed sons Adam, 14, Eli, 15, and 16-year-old Akhmat firing off weapons in apparent preparation for being sent to Ukraine.
The video showed the boys in camouflage clothing and dark glasses, on tanks, guns strapped to their waists, shooting rocket launchers and machine guns.
At times the teenagers smile while shooting or made a thumbs-up gesture.
"It's time to prove themselves in a real fight, I can only welcome this desire," Kadyrov wrote on Telegram.
Prada-wearing Kadyrov has been described as "the son Putin never had," such is his slavish devotion to the Russian president.
But while his Kadyrovtsy came with a fearsome reputation they have faced slaughter on the battlefield.
They have been mocked by Ukrainians for appearing to focus more on uploading glossy videos to social media than on taking part in front-line battles.
Just three days after the start of the war, top Chechen general Magomed Tushaev was killed in fighting outside Kyiv, as the Russian advance stalled.
Days later, footage was shared on Telegram of a destroyed Russian column in the western Kyiv suburb of Bucha, showing vehicles that reportedly belonged to Kadyrov's men.
The ruthless with a penchant for torture, murder, kidnapping and anti-gay purges - has an estimated fortune of up to £150million.
He is believed to own a villa on the exclusive man-made palm tree shaped island Palm Jumeriah in Dubai.
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The warlord also has an expensive car collection, including a Rolls Royce and Lamborghini - along with a £70million private plane, an Airbus A319.
He even has a private zoo - including tigers - near one of his mansions.
