Putin promotes Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to four-star army general

Vladimir Putin, via a presidential decree, promoted Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to the rank of four-star army general, the top tier in the Russian armed forces beneath the marshal rank. During the Kremlin ceremony, Viktor Zolotov, chief of the National Guard of Russia, presented Kadyrov with a maroon beret, regarded as the highest insignia for Rosgvardia special forces. The decree also conferred the honorary title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

Kadyrov’s rise has been rapid: he became a major general in 2020, a lieutenant general in 2022, and a colonel-general later that year, alongside multiple state awards. The Chechen administration hailed the promotion as recognition of Kadyrov’s long-standing service to the nation. Earlier honors include the Order of Merit for the Fatherland and the Order of Courage.