In the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions, a counter-terrorist operation (CTO) regime was introduced on the night of August 10. National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) explainedthat such a measure is connected with Ukraine’s attempt to “destabilize the situation” in three border regions of Russia. What is known about the CTO regime and how the situation will change for residents of border regions – in the RTVI material.
Why was the CTO regime introduced?
On the evening of August 9, the NAC announced the introduction of a counter-terrorist operation regime in the Bryansk region. The decision was made by the head of the FSB department for the region, Major General Sergei Voronin.
“The operational headquarters in the Bryansk region reports that a decision has been made to conduct a counter-terrorist operation and introduce a counter-terrorist operation legal regime on the territory of the Bryansk region from 23:00 on August 9, 2024, as well as to notify the interacting security agencies and state authorities of the region accordingly,” it is said in the NAC message.
Later, the acting head of the Kursk region, Alexey Smirnov, also reported on the introduction of the CTO regime “in connection with the increase in the level of sabotage and terrorist threats from Ukraine.” A similar decision was made in the Belgorod region.
The NAC adds in its statement that the results of the attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on the Kursk region were “casualties among the civilian population, the destruction of residential buildings and other civilian objects,” in connection with which, in order to “ensure the safety of citizens and prevent the threat of terrorist acts by enemy sabotage and reconnaissance units,” a counter-terrorist operation (CTO) regime is being introduced.
This is the “largest” counter-terrorist operation “both in terms of area and the number of people involved (almost 4 million people in total) in the entire history of Russia,” claims Telegram channel “MIG of Russia”.
“Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk. The counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya (introduced in September 1999) was less large-scale in these respects,” the channel’s publication says.
Telegram channel “Rybar” of the former employee of the press service of the Ministry of Defense Mikhail Zvinchuk explainedthat the introduction of the counter-terrorist operation regime means that “in the event of penetration of the territory of the region by sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or regular troops, all security forces have free rein to use extreme measures,” including against “waiters and those who like to film what is happening.”
“We shouldn’t conclude that this is an attempt to hide the movement of the Russian army, which is preparing for a breakthrough. Rather, information about the threatened areas reached the right ears, and they decided to cut the bureaucratic Gordian knot in this way,” Rybar believes.
“Sudzha is ours” and “the enemy is laughing”. What is known about the battles in the Kursk region
According to war correspondent Yuri Kotenok, the CTO regime you must enter and in other regions: Voronezh and Rostov regions, Krasnodar region and Crimea, as well as the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
What will change for residents of the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions
The CTO regime is introduced on the basis of the law “On counteracting terrorism” and is a special legal regime necessary to minimize the consequences of potential terrorist attacks. How explained Using the example of the Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, during the period of the special legal regime in the region, among other things, separate restrictions on movement and document checks will be introduced.
“The restrictions and counter-terrorist operation regime will be lifted once the situation returns to normal,” Gladkov added.
What other powers do the authorities receive during the CTO regime:
- restrict the operation of mobile communications and the Internet;
- monitor telephone conversations and correspondence;
- evacuate citizens and vehicles from a certain area;
- inspect vehicles and people at any place and at any time;
- seize the transport of organizations for the delivery of the wounded and the pursuit of suspects;
- to freely enter residential and non-residential premises and land plots;
- strengthen the protection of public order and important facilities;
- prohibit the sale of weapons and alcohol.
Reports of counter-terrorist operation regime on the territory of Belarus
After the announcement of the introduction of the counter-terrorist operation regime in the border regions of Russia, information appeared in the media and Telegram channels that a similar measure was applied in Belarus. In particular, the Ukrainian publication Strana.ua wrote about this. “The KGB called on residents of the border region to “remain calm and obey the demands of the security forces,” the publication says.
Telegram channel “Belarusian security officer” named this information is “thrown in”.
“No counter-terrorist operation regimes have been introduced in Belarus in the country’s border regions,” the channel’s author wrote.
The “Belarusian security official” clarified that in connection with the events in the Kursk region, the border has been reinforced with special forces as much as possible, but no decisions have been made to introduce any special situation in Belarus.
