In total for the entire period from 2016 to 2019, 139 hectares were cleared, 1,023 explosive objects were discovered
The detachment of the Center for Conducting Rescue Operations of Special Risk "Leader" of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, according to an additional agreement on cooperation in the field of prevention and liquidation of emergencies, will continue demining in South Ossetia.
“In 2020, work will continue to demine the territories of the Tskhinval district, with a total area of up to 25 hectares,” said the head of the Ministry of Emergencies, Azamat Chochiev, at a briefing in Tskhinval.
He has reminded that in June 2016 a special group of EMERCOM of Russia arrived in the Republic - the Center for Conducting Rescue Operations of Special Risk “Leader” in the amount of 30 people, headed by First Deputy Head of the Center “Leader” Anatoly Savvin and with the Deputy Head of the Department humanitarian response of the EMERCOM of Russia Tikhon Bazdyrev. Their main task was to carry out combat missions to mine clearing the terrain. Then the first stage began to clean up the territories of South Ossetia from explosive objects.
“Cleaning the territory of the Republic from unexploded ordnance in the period from 1992 to 2008 is acute. The issue was repeatedly discussed at the highest level, and was practically resolved thanks to the agreements of the presidents of Russia and South Ossetia,” he said.
Last year, the fourth stage of demining the territories of South Ossetia on the Zar Road was completed, the approaches to which were mined before the 2008 war.
“In total, 139 hectares were cleared for the entire period from 2016 to 2019, 1,023 explosive objects were discovered,” the Minister said.
According to him, in general, the work was carried out as usual, the sappers professionally reacted on each signal, and in case of detection of anti-personnel mines they used a robotic system for destruction by trawling.
"Also, Russian sappers actively interacted with South Ossetian colleagues. Upon completion of each stage of cleaning of territories, acts of delivery and reception of the cleared territories were signed", - Chochiev noted.
President Anatoly Bibilov presented state awards to the employees of the Leader Center detachment for their fruitful work in cleaning the territories from explosive objects.
Ambassador Marat Kulakhmetov also presented the sappers with awards and gifts on behalf of the Russian Embassy in South Ossetia.
