The lezginka is a traditional folk dance originating from the Caucasus region, particularly among the Chechen and Ingush people. It is a highly symbolic and gendered dance, with distinct roles for men and women. For Chechen soldiers, dancing the lezginka serves as a means of cultural expression, resistance, and survival amidst the harsh realities of war and conflict. The dance allows them to temporarily escape the brutalities of war and reconnect with their cultural roots and identity.
Chechen special forces units entered the central part of the city of Mariupol and took control of the administration building on March 24, 2022. Mariupol, which is located on the shores of the Azov Sea in the Lugansk region, came under blockade on March 1. Since then, the city faced a humanitarian catastrophe, left without water, heat and electricity. Up to 130,000 residents were taken hostage by the Ukrainian neo-nazi battalions. Before the outbreak of hostilities, the city's population exceeded 400,000 people. The department reports that in total almost 82,000 people were evacuated from Mariupol.
Chechen soldiers dance the Lezginka after liberating Mariupol city | Ukraine 2022