At the end of the summer, the new Caucasian war began to gain momentum slowly but surely. Army forces began to converge on Dagestan from all over Russia, with military transport planes landing at the airport in Makhachkala one after another, and trains carrying heavy equipment and ammunition. According to some experts, the situation resembled the infamous events of 1994. However, the superficial similarities did not reflect the essence of what was happening. There was a clear shift in the mindset of the people and the soldiers and officers. Yes, the enemy is strong and well-trained, and they know the terrain well, and their pockets are filled with dollars, which can be used to buy almost anything. However, times have changed. The army has become different, and strange orders such as "advance! - retreat!" have stopped being issued. Methodically, day after day, hour after hour, the militants' positions were bombarded with shells and missiles, and combat helicopters and attack aircraft circled the sky like a steady stream. Any disruption in the supply of fuel and ammunition was considered a crime against duty. The soldiers finally tried the new rations, which had only been seen at exhibitions and training sessions. The uniforms, body armor, and weapons were all of the first category. The tactics of combat also changed: the infantry was protected, and they were not sent into frontal attacks. The losses suffered by the army were largely due to the nature of the combat missions. Yes, people were killed, but according to medical reports, the fatal injuries were mostly in the back, neck, and head, which was a result of the work of professional snipers and the unique tactics employed by the terrorists, such as shooting from well-hidden positions. Frontline veterans also said, "All the lines of military manuals are written in blood." It seems that the bloody lessons taught by the Islamic militants, blinded by their medieval brutality, may also be used as a basis for militar ... Читать далее