On March 25, 2025, Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the Akhmat special forces and a close ally of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, reported the discovery of decapitated bodies in Russia’s Kursk region.
These bodies, identified as foreign mercenaries, were found without heads or hands, raising suspicions of foul play by Ukrainian forces.
Alaudinov’s Claims of Ukrainian Forces’ Actions
Alaudinov speculated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) mutilated the bodies of the foreign mercenaries to hide their identities.
He suggested that the heads and hands were removed to prevent identification via fingerprints or facial recognition.
He explained, “They cut off their heads and hands so that they could not be identified.
They take their documents and leave the bodies behind. We’ve seen similar cases before.”
Alaudinov further emphasized that foreign mercenaries now enter combat without any form of identification to avoid being traced back to their respective origins.
Russian Forces Retrieve Fallen Ukrainian Soldiers in Kursk
In addition to reporting the discovery of mercenary bodies, Alaudinov also mentioned that Russian forces are diligently collecting the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who have died in the region.
Alaudinov stressed the importance of proper handling, saying, “Right now, we collect their bodies in bags… We are human beings, and we cannot allow fallen soldiers to just lie around.”
Russian Forces Prepare to Clear the Kursk Region of Ukrainian Troops
Retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Russian forces are on the brink of fully clearing the Kursk region of Ukrainian troops by the end of March.
According to Matviychuk, only around 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers remain in the region, with AFU positions still existing in four villages along the Kursk-Sumy border.
He expressed confidence that the region would be cleared within the week, marking the beginning of a shift in military focus toward Sumy.
Apti Alaudinov: Background on the Commander of Akhmat Special Forces
Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov, born on October 5, 1973, is a high-ranking officer in the National Guard of Russia.
Born into a Chechen family, Alaudinov experienced deep personal losses during the Chechen wars, including the deaths of his father, uncle, and older brother at the hands of separatist forces.
Although Alaudinov did not directly participate in the wars, his family supported Russian federal forces.
Alaudinov later graduated from Chechen State University in 2001 with a degree in jurisprudence and continued his support for federal forces, aligning with Vladimir Putin during the Second Chechen War.