Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Thursday that 23 of his soldiers had been killed and 58 wounded in artillery fire from Ukraine this week, Reuters reported.

Kadyrov’s claims are unusual, given that pro-Moscow forces have rarely acknowledged serious losses on the battlefield since the start of the war.

In a message on his Telegram channel, Kadyrov said that the incident took place in the Kherson region in the south of the country.

“All rescue operations on the spot have been completed, there is a final list of the dead and wounded – 23 soldiers died, 58 were wounded,” Kadyrov said.

Kadyrov, who leads the predominantly Muslim southern Chechnya, calls himself Putin’s soldier and says he has sent thousands to fight in the war.

“Yes, our losses in the early hours of that day were high, but Chechens are participating in jihad… and if they are destined to die in a holy war, it is an honor and a great joy for any true Muslim,” said the leader of Chechnya.

After the attack, Chechen troops attacked and killed about 70 Ukrainians, Kadyrov also said.

Reuters was unable to verify Kadyrov’s claims.