MOZDOK, December 20 (AVN) - Federal aviation accomplished about 140 combat missions in Chechnya last weekend, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters said on Monday.
Missile and bomb strikes were inflicted on guerrilla groups, bases and fortified areas near Grozny, Vedeno and Shali, the spokesman told the Military News Agency. According to preliminary data, the aircraft eliminated 17 strong points, two mountain bases, six air defence systems, over 20 units of equipment, including a tank and two infantry fighting vehicles, a communication centre and a fuel depot.
Federal ground forces, supported by aviation, continued their advance to the Chechen capital and in the south of the rebellious republic. An airborne unit scattered a large guerrilla gang near the locality of Serzhen-Yurt and seized a huge amount of ammunition and medicines.
According to a military source which requested anonymity, federal pilots often have to violate flight security rules in the course of support operations. Unfavourable weather conditions force them to fly at extremely low heights and at the end of the day, the source told the Agency.