KHANKALA. Dec 23 (Interfax-AVN) - Federal aviation and artillery destroyed three guerilla bases and two camps during last week's special operations in the North Caucasus, a source in the unified federal headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
"The situation in the area remains complicated. Aviation and artillery destroyed three guerilla bases and two camps last week. Special operations aimed at finding rebels took place in nine localities. As a result, 28 people were detained, five arms caches and two stocks of warm clothes found and a retransmitter destroyed," the source said.
Guerillas attacked federal strongpoints 27 times, federal units two times and military convoys two times. Engineering reconnaissance units defused some 130 explosive devices, including 19 landmines, and cleared from mines three roadblocks on mountain paths. Engagements were registered in three districts of Grozny, the town of Argun, and the Vedeno and Nozhai-Yurt districts. Landmines blasted in the Itum-Kale and Vedeno districts as well as in Grozny.
Federal units found and seized 36 assault rifles, 15 pistols, a machine-gun, 16 grenade launchers and 199 grenade launcher rounds, 118 mines, 19 landmines, 227 artillery shells, 106 grenades and over 20,000 cartridges.
The source said that guerillas changed their tactics due to cold weather. They concentrate on planting explosive devices and on firing at strongpoints and federal formations.
Main rebel forces are located in hard-to-reach mountain areas. Meanwhile, intelligence activities aimed at collecting information about federal troops and local authorities take place in localities, and work is underway at recruiting people aged 13- 16.
"Rebel groups numbering five to 10 people each have stepped up activities in Grozny, Vedeno and Argun," the source noted.
According to intelligence data, rebels face troubles with medicines and warm clothes and that is why extremist leaders have ordered extraction of these items from local residents.