MOSCOW. Jan 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Guard sappers defused some 16,000 explosive devices, including over 3,500 in the Northern Caucasus, in 2018, Lieut. Gen. Alexander Zarovnyatykh, the head of the engineer directorate of the Russian Guard, told reporters.
"Over 25,000 missions were fulfilled last year; some 16,000 various explosive objects were defused and destroyed. Our military sappers found and defused over 3,500 explosive objects [in the Northern Caucasus] last year," Zarovnyatykh said.
Many of these explosive devices dated back to the Great Patriotic War, he said.
Russian Guard sappers were also employed to ensure security during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, at various forums, and during the presidential election, Zarovnyatykh said.