BELGOROD. Aug 31 (Interfax) - Officers of the Belgorod police department, the West-Akhmat battalion and the regional border department have detained five suspected saboteurs while on a joint patrol mission, the regional police department's press service said on Thursday.
"Five people have been detained and their possible involvement in sabotage and reconnaissance is being verified," the press service said.
The officers checked 119 houses, including 20 uninhabited buildings, alongside elements of civilian infrastructure, vehicles, places where foreigners concentrate and reside, stores, and people listed in police records, it said.
"Over 120 liters of alcohol and 45 blocks of cigarettes were seized on suspicion of being counterfeit. More than 40 administrative offenses were detected as a result of preventive measures," the press service said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered that a "medium response level" be introduced in Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, the Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov regions, and Sevastopol.