# American national signs contract with Russian Defense Ministry’s Akhmat commando unit

https://mins.news/en/item/107590

- TASS, 2026-10-20 09:40 UTC
- World
- Original: https://tass.com/defense/2204557

> Apty Alaudinov, deputy chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ Main Military-Political Directorate and commander of Akhmat, said American journalist Christopher Helali completed training and signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry’s special forces unit. Helali has said he requested Russian citizenship.