Social media users surprised by apologies from military correspondent for his words about “Akhmat” special forces

Military correspondent Vladimir Romanov has voiced public apologies after he called members of the “Akhmat” Chechen special forces “TikTokers” and said that their units stayed behind the units in which conscript soldiers serve. Social media users considered the apologies inappropriate and suggested that Vladimir Romanov recorded his video with apologies under pressure.

“Conscript soldiers stand right at the border. This is a fact. ‘TikTokers’ stand behind them,” Vladimir Romanov said in a video posted in his Telegram channel. Later, the military correspondent posted another video in which he voiced his apologizes. “The words I said concerning the ‘Akhmat’ fighters standing behind conscripts are incorrect due to the fact that I trusted information from other sources, for which I apologize to you and to the ‘Akhmat’ unit,” Vladimir Romanov said.

“These apologies have already become a comedy genre,” wrote user Ricardo Samaranchez in his comment on the “VKontakte” social network.

“You should either check the information you get or defend your words. Otherwise, it seems that you have been intimidated,” noted user Elena Ast.

“He has been apparently explained what he should say in the video,” suggested user Yegor Alexandrovich.

“Initially, you should have not recorded a video with nonsense. Many of my fellow villagers and friends perished during the special military operation (SMO). Do you want to say that they perished while filming videos for TikTok?” user Magomed Isaev expressed his indignation.