GROZNY. July 31 (Interfax-AVN) - The command of the unified federal troops group in the North Caucasus has learned that several more separatist groups are ready to leave Georgia's Pankisi Gorge for Chechnya, commander of the group Lieutenant General Sergei Makarov said on Wednesday.
"We are aware of that and we are ready to meet them," Makarov told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The situation on the Chechen strap of the Russian-Georgian border has generally stabilized, he said.
"Border guards are serving in the regular mode. If it becomes necessary, we are ready to reinforce the border guard troops with joint-arms units trained to operate in forest-covered mountains," the commander stressed.
According to him, participants in the operation to destroy an invading rebel gang in the Itum-Kale district have suffered no losses since July 27. "The border guards suffered the main losses in the first hours of the engagement. They met the blow with courage and heroism and accomplished their mission in full," Makarov said.