The teenage son and anointed successor of Vladimir Putin's key Chechen ally, Ramzan Kadyrov, is reportedly in a critical condition following a serious high-speed car crash. Adam Kadyrov, aged 18, was airlifted from Grozny to a specialist hospital in Moscow after the incident, which involved multiple vehicles.
Details of the High-Speed Convoy Crash
According to sources speaking to local media, the accident occurred in the Chechen capital, Grozny. Adam Kadyrov was reportedly driving the lead vehicle in a convoy travelling 'at very high speed' when it suddenly encountered an obstacle. The vehicle struck a fence, with one source stating, 'He lost control at high speed.'
After the collision, the teenager was first taken to the Republican Clinical Hospital in Grozny. There were initial fears he was unconscious or even in a coma, prompting the decision to urgently transfer him to Moscow for advanced care. Two aircraft – one linked to the Russian state and another to the Kadyrov family – were reported to have taken off from Grozny and landed in quick succession at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport early this morning.
Amid Rumours About His Father's Health
The incident comes just days after intense speculation about the health of his father, Ramzan Kadyrov, 49. The Chechen leader, who has long suffered from kidney failure, was last seen publicly over a week ago using a walking stick. Reports from Ukrainian intelligence sources, cited by Interfax-Ukraine, suggested he had undergone dialysis and that there was growing concern, with unconfirmed claims he may have slipped into a coma.
Authorities in both Chechnya and Russia have so far remained silent on Adam Kadyrov's condition. However, the response on the ground indicates the seriousness of the situation: key areas of Grozny were closed off, and significant traffic disruptions were reported near the hospital and on major routes into the city.
A Teenager Groomed for Power
Adam Kadyrov has been conspicuously prepared to lead Chechnya should anything happen to his father. Despite his youth, he holds several major positions, including security chief of the region and head of his father's personal security service. He also oversees the Vladimir Putin University of Russian Special Forces and commands two Defence Ministry battalions.
His lavish lifestyle has often made headlines. Last year, he married at 17 to a relative of a high-ranking Chechen politician. At the wedding, he was filmed firing a gold pistol into the air from the driver's seat of a Mercedes G-Class, despite being too young for a licence. He was also seen wearing an extravagant £5.1 million Jacob & Co. watch. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally offered his congratulations for the marriage, joking with the elder Kadyrov not to mistreat the newlyweds.
The crash now places the future of the Kadyrov dynasty in sharp focus, with both father and son facing serious health crises simultaneously.
