KHANKALA. Sept 16 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's military command has dramatically reinforced units deployed on the Russian-Georgian border, particularly at the Chechen section, a source in the unified federal headquarters said on Monday.
"In an effort to prevent rebels infiltrating from Georgia, the border has been reinforced by extra special task and artillery units. Furthermore, some border sections have been made impassable," the source told Interfax-Military News Agency.
According to the command, small groups comprising a total of 500 rebels and foreign mercenaries are hiding near the border. Most rebel groups are concentrated in Georgia. Separate groups are in Chechnya and ready to support the rebels, should they attempt to cross the border, the source said.
Actions of ground units near the border are being supported by federal aviation. "Combat planes and helicopters fly over the Georgian border every day. The aviation is ready to inflict missile and bomb strikes on guerrilla groups that attempt to cross into Russia," the source stressed.
He added that "the destruction of rebel groups and establishment of roadblocks in mountains in order to block guerrillas are the aviation's main tasks."