Craig,

Welcome to SWJ. I encourage you to use the search function on SWJ, and I'm believe you'll find considerable information on Chechnya. Not just a regional issue, we fought their extremists in Afghanistan, and they play a role in the Islamic State. If you look at the Ukraine thread, there are reports of Chechens fighting there also, allegedly at the invite of the Russians.

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...light=chechnya

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...light=chechnya

http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/che...sources-at-swj