The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported a successful operation against personnel of the Russian "Akhmat" unit in the Sumy region from February to April 2026. As a result, according to the GUR website, the unit suffered its most significant losses since the beginning of the conflict: 41 people were killed and 87 were wounded. In addition, more than 100 members of the unit went missing.

According to the agency, the special operation involved the GUR "Shamanbat" special unit, which includes soldiers from the free Ichkeria, along with the 104th Troops of the "Goryn" Special Operations Brigade, in cooperation with the GUR undercover operations unit.

"Information about the enemy's plans and intentions was transmitted to military intelligence by an agent—a former "Akhmat" serviceman—with whom the GUR established contact in early 2025. Subsequently, intelligence officers arranged for the agent's safe passage to Ukrainian-controlled territory. He planted a listening device, transmitted behind the front lines by an FPV drone, in the Akhmat meeting room—GUR operatives recorded the conversations of the unit's entire command staff," the GUR statement reads.

It is emphasized that "awareness of the enemy's plans and capabilities allowed Ukrainian special forces to target Kadyrov's men during their movements and in staging areas."

Akhmat commander Apti Alaudinov is also featured in the recordings. In the provided audio recordings, he criticizes Russian paratroopers, who, in his words, "are not fighting anywhere." Furthermore, Alaudinov admitted that "most of our artillery crews and tank crews don't even know how to fire properly."

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Abdul Khakim, commander of the Ichkerian volunteers in the Shamanbat unit, called on Chechens not to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. If they were unable to avoid it, he said, they should contact Ukrainian intelligence and surrender.

"What have the Ukrainians done to you? Whom of you have they killed? Take care of yourselves and come over to our side. Save your souls. You will be saved both in this world and in the afterlife. We know that there are many among you who want to come over to our side. Come over to our side," Abdul Khakim was quoted as saying on the GUR website.