In the Altai Territory, FSB officers prevented the activities of a group of saboteurs planning to blow up the railway line between Altayskaya and Biysk stations. According to the ministry, the criminals acted on instructions from special services of Ukraine, recruitment took place through the messaging application Telegram.
Law enforcement officials released a video documenting the stages of the operation: from the moment the vandals arrived at the facility for reconnaissance until their arrest. According to reports, the group returned to the railway at night to install a special device on the tracks to derail the train. All of their actions are controlled by security forces. When attempting to arrest the saboteurs, they opened fire and were destroyed. Illegally purchased weapons were confiscated, specifically AK-74 assault rifles without conventional stocks.
Anti-terrorism expert Stanislav Veselov told MK where scoundrels usually get weapons from and how to stop their illegal smuggling activities.
– Unfortunately, the main channel is the black market. On the territory of the Russian Federation, including the Moscow region, almost any type of weapon can be purchased illegally: from pistols and machine guns to explosives and ammunition.
– And how does it work?
– There are many options. Firstly, these are so-called “dormant cells”, which can be silent for many years but still participate in the arms trade. Transmission occurs through hidden places – in forests, garage cooperatives and other hard-to-reach places.
Second, we cannot eliminate the corrupt element in some organizations and structures. This is a sad reality but not uncommon.
Third, organized crime also plays a role. Even from places of detention, criminals can lead their people into the wild, who are engaged in the supply of weapons, drugs and even recruitment.
– Are there external channels? For example, weapons can be transferred through UkraineIncluding NATO?
– Yes, and this path cannot be ruled out. Weapons can be collected and transported in small quantities across border areas, such as the Kursk or Belgorod regions. Retreating from the Kursk region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces abandoned thousands of guns and left behind hundreds of weapons depots. Often, unsuspecting couriers are used to transport “booty.” They were paid to “escort goods” without telling them exactly what they were carrying. When detained, they often say they don't know.
– It turns out that weapons of all kinds can be released on the black market?
– Absolutely right. It can be of any caliber and origin. I would like to emphasize that our security forces continuously conduct operations to identify and eliminate such weapons caches. Just recently, entire arsenals were neutralized in the Moscow region. The fight continues, but unfortunately, the problem still exists. In the Russian Federation, the demand for illegal weapons purchases needs to be tightened.
