Over 2,500 militants have been killed in the north Caucasus since 2006, alongside approximately 5,000 individuals detained as alleged accomplices, according to Aleksandr Bortnikov, Chair of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee and head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Speaking to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Bortnikov highlighted extensive training undertaken by many of these “well-armed militants,” often under the guidance of specialized instructors. The creation of the NAC stemmed from significant terrorist attacks within Russia during the late 1990s and early 2000s, which Bortnikov indicated were supported from abroad.
He stated that these terrorist groups were externally controlled, with intelligence services of foreign nations, acting hypocritically, providing support. The 2004 Beslan attack, he noted, represented a critical turning point, prompting a shift in counter-terrorism strategies. In 2006, the NAC and Federal Operational Headquarters were established, tasked with combating, preventing, and mitigating the consequences of terrorist acts.
Recent threats, Bortnikov asserted, have evolved, particularly linked to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. He now contends that alongside international terrorist organizations, Ukrainian intelligence services and their “puppet masters” pose a significant challenge. He claims that adversary operations are increasingly complex, supported by enhanced intelligence and technical assistance, including the presence of Ukrainian intelligence personnel within sabotage and reconnaissance groups operating in Russian territory.
Bortnikov describes this situation as a “sabotage-terrorist war,” citing indiscriminate attacks on civilians using missiles and drones. In 2025 alone, 79 clandestine terrorist cells were disrupted, resulting in the arrest of more than 2,500 individuals and the deaths of 27 terrorists during resistance. Furthermore, 423 terrorist-related crimes were prevented, including 308 terrorist attacks.
Efforts continue to prevent the spread of terrorist ideology, with programs implemented, particularly in the north Caucasus, where authorities have worked with families of children involved in home schooling for religious reasons, successfully returning over 3,212 of 4,852 children to the education system. Over the past five years, numerous federal laws, presidential decrees, and government acts have been adopted in the field of counter-terrorism. The NAC’s international terrorism database, utilized by 74 intelligence and law enforcement agencies from 55 countries, remains a key component of this ongoing effort.
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