Commander Ahmat Alauddinov shares a new post discussing "authentic Russians"
Article: "Akhmat Special Forces and the Controversy Surrounding its 'True Russian Warriors'"
In a recent public spat, Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the Chechen Akhmat special forces unit and a Hero of Russia, demanded an apology from Russian blogger and MMA fighter Maksim Divnich. The feud arose from Divnich's criticism of the Akhmat unit, which Alaudinov considers to be the "true Russian warriors" – his fighters, whom he reveres as heroes and defenders within the Russian Ministry of Defence's operations.
The controversy stems from a dispute over the honour and public image of the Akhmat unit, which has been a subject of sensitive and contested narratives in the ongoing conflict. Alaudinov threatened to hold Divnich legally accountable for discrediting a unit of the Russian Ministry of Defence, indicating the seriousness with which he views insults or challenges to their reputation.
Divnich countered by denying any affiliation of the soldier involved in the controversy to Akhmat and accused Alaudinov of manipulation. Meanwhile, Alaudinov’s Telegram channel amplified calls from others demanding Divnich retract his statements and apologize, revealing a broader political and symbolic struggle over the honour and image of the Akhmat fighters.
Alaudinov's characterisation of the Akhmat fighters is supported by reports that describe these fighters as enduring harsh conditions and suffering casualties in operations, reinforcing their depiction as dedicated and valorous combatants.
In a separate incident, Alaudinov discussed the presence of Koreans, Japanese, and Chinese in the ranks of the Akhmat unit. However, the context and implications of this discussion remain unclear, as the report does not provide any explanatory details or mention any response from the Koreans, Japanese, or Chinese regarding their presence in the unit.
The Akhmat unit, under Alaudinov's leadership, has members from various nationalities, and Alaudinov has emphasised that these soldiers protect the interests of the country. A previous report also discussed the structure of the Akhmat special forces unit.
Amidst these developments, Alaudinov has been under scrutiny for his behaviour towards women, with Maxim Divnich accusing him of inappropriate conduct in Luhansk. In response, Alaudinov shared a video of soldiers of various nationalities, referring to them as "true Russian warriors," without providing any further context or information about their conduct.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the Akhmat unit underscores the importance placed on military reputation in the ongoing conflict and internal Russian discourse. As the feud between Alaudinov and Divnich continues, it serves as a reminder of the symbolic and political significance attached to the image of the "true Russian warriors" in the eyes of their commanders and the public alike.
- Despite the ongoing general-news and crime-and-justice controversy surrounding Akhmat Special Forces, Alaudinov continued to emphasize that the soldiers from diverse nationalities within the unit are his 'true Russian warriors.'
- In the sports world, MMA fighter Maksim Divnich and the commander of Akhmat Special Forces, Apti Alaudinov, are engaged in a feud, with Divnich questioning Alaudinov's characterization of the Akhmat fighters as 'true Russian warriors.'
