Recruiting fighters from other regions to the Erzi Battalion was a necessary measure.

The presence of fighters from other regions in the Erzi international battalion created in Ingushetia, as well as in the groups departing from Grozny, is intended to demonstrate the mass nature of the decision to go to the front, analysts believe.

As the "Caucasian Knot" reported, the first group of the Erzi international battalion, created in Ingushetia at the initiative of Putin's plenipotentiary representative Yuri Chaika, was sent from Nazran to the combat zone in Ukraine. This was reported by the head of Ingushetia, Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov.

The first dispatch of Ingush "internationalists" to the front is not an imitation of Chechnya, an Ingush public figure who spoke to the "Caucasian Knot" on condition of anonymity is sure.

"This is only for reporting, and not for competition with Chechnya or for imitation of the neighboring republic. This is not Kalimatov's initiative, but Chaika's. And that says it all," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The name "Erzi" for the battalion may be a special move to attract the attention of Ingush society, he believes.

"But no one is discussing this. Society doesn't "It's interesting. The most people say is regret that the guys are making such a decision," he noted.

The main thing is not to stand aside and send a group there.

It's more about imitating Chechnya than competing with it, says political scientist Ruslan Kutayev*.

"In Chechnya, they've long been assembling groups not only from Chechens but also from other regions. Apparently, Ingushetia has also decided to follow this path and adopted this method. "But not on his own initiative, but by decision of Chaika," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to him, all methods are good now, since there are few willing to fight.

"They are ready to take anyone, as long as a group is formed. That is, anyone can be taken, the main thing is not to stand aside and send a group there. Take from wherever you want, that's the slogan everywhere now," he noted.

As for the name of the "Erzi" battalion, there is a nuance.

"What matters is not what it's called, but what it does. "And Erzi in Chechen means eagle, a beautiful name for a battalion, in my opinion," Kutayev* pointed out.

The Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Special Forces University in Gudermes is truly unique in its concept and scale, but it is not the only specialized training center in Russia, notes military expert, retired Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin

There's the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School named after Army General Margelov, which trains officers for the Airborne Forces and the GRU special forces. There's the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School, which trains officers for the Internal Troops and the Rosgvardia special forces. There's also the Vityaz Special Training Center in Balashikha, a training base for FSB special forces. "So there are others," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

However, according to him, there are several parameters that make the Gudermes center unique.

"Firstly, it is a civilian educational institution, formally not part of the Ministry of Defense or other security agencies, but in fact it trains fighters for various units. Secondly, the emphasis is on training specifically for Chechen formations and volunteer units. Thirdly, the declared capacity of up to 5,000 cadets simultaneously significantly exceeds other specialized centers," the expert noted.

* is included in the register of foreign agents.

** The activities of Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.