News / Russia

Russia president orders counter-terrorism units on coasts

Saturday, 26 December 2015 2:01 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 26 December 2015 2:00 PM ]

Russian President Vladimir Putin (AP photo)

Russia is set to establish several counter-terrorism operational headquarters in different coastal areas across the country, as Moscow is engaged in fighting with terror groups in Syria.

The units which are to be set up under an order by President Vladimir Putin will be located in Kaspiysk on the Caspian Sea, Murmansk in Russia's north-west and in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Russia's eastern coast, Russian media reported on Saturday.

A similar unit will also be set up in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, which seceded from Ukraine and rejoined Russia in March last year.

Moscow launched a campaign against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists and other militant groups in Syria on September 30 upon a request from the Damascus government.

Anti-terror operations are also being carried out in Russia.

Russian forces on Friday detained six suspected militants during a counter-terrorism raid on a residential complex in the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic.

A large number of cartridges, grenades, grenade launchers and TNT blocks were found during the raid on the complex, which was reportedly being used as a laboratory for the production of improvised explosive devices.

Hundreds of Daesh terrorists reportedly come from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), an organization of former Soviet Republics.

Back in November, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said more than 25,000 foreign militants, including individuals from Arab countries, Europe, Russia and CIS, are fighting alongside Daesh in Syria.

According to the Russian Interior Ministry, many Russians from the Republic of Chechnya have traveled to Syria to join the ranks of terrorists operating to overthrow the Syrian government. Moscow says such militants threaten the country’s security upon their return.

In recent months, the Daesh militant group has expanded its presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The group is also using a sophisticated social media campaign to woo local Taliban and other militants.

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