CaliToday (02/1/2026): Fevered speculation has gripped the Russian political sphere regarding the fate of Ramzan Kadyrov, the iron-fisted leader of Chechnya. Rumors of his demise reached a boiling point on New Year's Day after an ominous and currently unverified image announcing his death appeared on his own official Telegram channel.
The "Vanishing" Timeline The uncertainty began late last month. Kadyrov, known for his prolific and often theatrical social media presence earning him the moniker "The TikTok Warlord" from detractors has been uncharacteristically silent.
He arrived in Moscow on December 24, 2025, scheduled to attend a high-stakes State Council meeting with President Vladimir Putin and other regional governors the following day. However, Kadyrov never made it to the Kremlin table.
Sources close to the Chechen leadership report that on the night of December 25, Kadyrov’s health suffered a "sudden and severe deterioration." He was reportedly rushed to the Central Clinical Hospital, an elite facility under the administration of the President’s Office. While Moscow doctors reportedly struggled to stabilize his condition before discharging him, Kadyrov has not been seen in public since that night.
A New Year’s Shock The situation escalated on January 1, 2026, when a graphic resembling an official obituary briefly surfaced on Kadyrov’s personal Telegram account. The post claimed the leader had passed away, though it was not immediately confirmed by the Kremlin or Chechen officials.
Analysts are debating whether the channel was hacked or if the post was a premature leak of a closely guarded state secret. The Kremlin has refused to comment on the "rumors," fueling anxiety about a potential power vacuum in the volatile North Caucasus region.