In Chechnya, 420 hectares of land cleared of mines

Military combat engineers of the federal forces, who starting from the beginning of April conduct a large-scale mine clearing of farmland in five districts of Chechnya, have already cleared the total territory of 420 hectares of mines, unexploded ammunition, and various explosive devices. In total, the military combat engineers are to clear the territory of 1700 hectares.

Let us remind you that a large-scale demining of territories was launched in Chechnya in April. The operation involves engineering and combat engineering units of motorized rifle brigades of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Russia, deployed in the republic on a permanent basis. It is planned that the overall demining will last for three years and will be completed in 2015.

"Since the moment of the start of the demining and till the end of July, the military officers of the engineering and combat engineering units of the Southern Military District carried out the so-called continuous cleaning of lands with total area of 420 hectares in the territory of five districts of the republic the Grozny, Urus-Martan, Shelkovskaya, Shali and Kurchaloi Districts. During that time, the combat engineers have found and destroyed more than 3000 pieces of various explosive devices," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by a source in the military commandant's office of Chechnya.

Combat engineers work in pairs at a certain place. Initially, one of them searches for explosive devices, and the second one protects him. Half an hour later, they reverse.

Residents of the republic believe that the problems of demining of the republic's territory are extremely essential not only for farmers, but also for the entire population.

"It's clear that people will be able to grow crops on the cleared fields, and this is a big advantage. However, the more important fact is that people will no longer die because of mines and fougasses. It's good that at least at present the problems of demining are treated seriously," says Uvais Magomadov, a resident of the republic.