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Called Russian ethnic groups cruel, Russia responds to Pope Francis: We will pray for the Holy See

Called Russian ethnic groups cruel, Russia responds to Pope Francis: We will

Pope Francis has described two of Russia's ethnic minority groups, the Chechens and Buryats, as some of the "cruelest" troops fighting in Ukraine.

Chechens are an ethnic group originating from Chechnya in southern Russia. The leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has been largely supportive of the war in Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova defended Russia's ethnic makeup on her official Telegram channel.

"We are a family of Buryats, Chechens and other representatives of our multi-ethnic and multi-confessional country. And together we will definitely pray for the Holy See, each in our own way."