Putin inspects troops readying to fight Ukraine in surprise trip to Chechnya

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov look at weapons that were said to be captured during Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, as they visit the Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes, Russia August 20, 2024. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS

(Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on Tuesday inspected Chechen troops and volunteers readying to fight Ukraine, the Kremlin said, in what was Putin's first trip in 13 years to the North Caucasus republic.

The previously unannounced trip to the mostly Muslim republic that is part of Russia comes as Moscow fights to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk region two weeks after they smashed through the border in the largest invasion of Russia since World War Two.