Ramzan Kadyrov promoted to general of the army; given brown beret

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been promoted to the rank of general of the army by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and during a ceremony the director of Rosgvardiya, Viktor Zolotov, presented him with a beret.

Organizers of the event announced the promotion with the following words: "By decree of the President of Russia, the Hero of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Kadyrov Ramzan Akhmatovich, is awarded the honorary military rank of high army general. The Hero of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Kadyrov Ramzan Akhmatovich, is also awarded a brown beret," the statement said at the ceremony.

The rank and the beret

The rank of general of the army is the second-highest military rank in the modern Russian system, immediately below the rank of Marshal of the Russian Federation.

Reports from the ceremony said Viktor Zolotov personally presented a beret described in some accounts as maroon, while the event statement referred to a brown beret. The brown beret is considered the principal insignia of Rosgvardiya’s special forces; the right to wear it is confirmed after qualification tests that include assessments of physical fitness, firearms skill and tactical proficiency.

The Chechen leader’s administration said the promotion and the presentation of the beret represent "recognition for outstanding services to the fatherland, long-standing brave work and selfless service to the fatherland."

Kadyrov was previously promoted to the rank of colonel-general in April 2022 and received the rank of major-general in July 2020. He has also been awarded titles and decorations including Hero of the Russian Federation, the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III class, the Order of Courage and the Order of Honor, among others. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Kadyrov and members of his family have received roughly 150 different awards.

Photo: press material from the event