KHANKALA. Aug 24 (Interfax-AVN) - Rebels in Chechnya have suffered the greatest losses in months during the past three days of strikes by federal forces, spokesman for the regional headquarters of the anti-guerilla operation in the North Caucasus Major General Ilya Shabalkin told Interfax on Tuesday.
Federal troops and local law enforcers have killed 62 rebels since August 21, he said.
He said 50 were killed in an attack on the night of August 21.
On Monday night, federal forces delivered another strike at two areas where rebels had been discovered between Prigorodnoye and Chechen-Aul and also on the slopes of Sunzha range between Grozny and Pervomaiskaya, all in the Grozny rural district.
Shabalkin said the bodies of 12 rebels were discovered when the area was examined in the morning. One light machinegun, many Kalashnikov assault rifles and big quantities of ammunition were also found.
He said pinpoint strikes continue in the Grozny rural district where two rebel groups were detected. Federal forces have sealed off the area to prevent remaining rebels from escaping.