Twenty-six militants neutralized in N. Caucasus in 2019 - Russian National Guard
MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - Twenty-six members of terrorist cells were neutralized and more than 500 weapons were seized in the North Caucasus last year, the press service of the Russian National Guard told Interfax on Friday, citing information provided by commander of the joint group of forces in the North Caucasus Vasily Fedorchuk.
"He [Fedorchuk] noted that in close interaction with FSB [Federal Security Service] structures, military and police units within the joint group of forces neutralized 26 members of terrorist cells in the North Caucasus in 2019. Servicemen and other personnel of the group of forces uncovered and destroyed more than 190 facilities of gangs' infrastructure," the Russian National Guard said in a statement.
Weapons and ammunition were seized or voluntarily surrendered on more than 1,500 occasions last year, the statement said.
As many as 500 illegally owned weapons and 736 hunting rifles and over 77,000 ammunition items of different calibers were seized. Improvised explosive devices were disposed of.
"The results that were achieved helped seriously reduce the activity of gangs and terrorist cells and prevent terrorist acts that were being plotted," the press service quoted Fedorchuk as saying.