RT reported that on February 11, Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Mr. Aleksandr Bortnikov, warned about the damage Russia has to endure in the context of increasing terrorism.
Speaking at a meeting of the National Anti-terrorism Commission (NAC) and leaders of federal ministries, Mr. Bortnikov outlined possible terrorist methods and provided countermeasures.
According to Mr. Bortnikov, the main targets of terrorist attacks are attacks on energy infrastructure, transportation, defense industry and crowded places.
Since the beginning of the year, Russian law enforcement has blocked 23 terrorist attacks, arresting more than 224 suspects and accomplices, including 97 armed members and more than 100 assistants. Mr. Bortnikov said that most of these plots were staged by foreign terrorist organizations, including Ukraine.
Russia suffered one of the bloodiest terrorist attacks in recent history last March, when four gunmen killed 145 people and injured more than 500 at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow. The Islamic State terrorist group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group group 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Mr. Bortnikov continued to warn that Ukraine will also try to carry out attacks deep into Russian territory using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and weapons provided by the West, in order to "cause maximum economic damage and threaten civilians".
In this situation, the Russian government will strengthen coordination between federal ministries to deal with terrorist threats and deploy measures to protect critical infrastructure against UAV attacks, Mr. Bortnikov said.
Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of conducting attacks using UAVs and artillery to residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Last week, a Ukrainian UAV attacked a school bus in the Zaporizhzhia region, injuring five children and the driver.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized international monitoring organizations for ignoring the attack, saying it was not the first time Ukraine had chosen children as targets.
In December last year, a man born in 1995 from Uzbekistan carried out an assassination attempt on Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant in Moscow by placing a mine in his car. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) later claimed responsibility, declaring Mr. Kirillov as a completely legitimate target.
