Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Russia’s Chechen Republic, has dismissed reports of a possible food shortage in the region, describing them as false.

“Across various online platforms, people intent on stirring up panic have begun spreading claims about an alleged impending shortage of food and essential goods in the Chechen Republic. These reports are nothing more than a figment of someone’s imagination and, of course, bear absolutely no resemblance to reality,” Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel.

However, Kadyrov did not specify which reports he was referring to. As of publication, no publicly available reports suggesting an impending food shortage in Chechnya that could have prompted his statement had been identified.

A day earlier, Russia’s central bank reported that annual inflation in Chechnya had accelerated. According to the regulator, prices for cheese and vegetables recorded some of the sharpest increases among food products. The central bank’s report referred to rising prices rather than any disruptions to food supplies.

Kadyrov said the Chechen Republic has sufficient reserves of food and essential goods.

“Our republic has an adequate supply of food products and essential goods. All relevant enterprises, farms and food-processing facilities are operating as normal. The necessary machinery and logistical resources are fully engaged in the seasonal agricultural campaign,” he wrote.

According to the head of the republic, adverse weather conditions have caused only minor delays to harvesting in some districts, while the campaign continues as planned. He said that 120,000 hectares of grain and legume crops have already been harvested, yielding 369,000 tonnes at an average of 3 tonnes per hectare.

The figures, Kadyrov said, exceed those recorded during the same period last year, with the total grain harvest expected to surpass 500,000 tonnes by the end of the season.

“There are no grounds to expect or forecast any food shortages,” Kadyrov said.

He also urged residents to rely only on official sources of information and refrain from sharing false reports.

“So, friends, trust only official sources of information. Do not become participants in the spread of false reports. Attempts to artificially sow anxiety among the public are doomed to fail,” Kadyrov wrote.