The commander of the Russian Interior Ministry's 46th Brigade's engineers claimed that minefields, until recently a major issue for civilians in Chechnya, are virtually gone from the area. Explosive ordnance disposal experts are currently dealing with unexploded shells and bombs left on various battlefields, as well as removing freshly planted rebel mines near administrative buildings and military convoy routes. Federal military engineers survey over 600 kilometers of roads used by military convoys daily, while sappers have discovered over 100 homemade bombs and 650 other explosive devices.
According to the International Committee to ban Landmines, both sides seem to be equally culpable for seeding Chechnya with explosives. While Russian officials have admitted to large-scale use of mines in Chechnya, they have repeatedly rejected allegations of indiscriminate use by Russian forces. In early 2002, Russian officials asserted that antipersonnel mines were always used in compliance with the requirements of Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). They also claimed that all minefields were fenced and marked to prevent civilian casualties, and that once active military operations were over, minefields were cleared. The ICBL felt that neither past nor current reports coming out of Chechnya validated Russian claims.
Minefields were laid to blockade specific rebel base areas or close routes and convoy paths across the border, using antipersonnel mines with self-destruction mechanisms and control options. In 1999 and 2000, Russian forces also dropped antipersonnel mines from aircraft and rockets, resulting in large tracts of mined land left unmarked and unfenced.
Throughout 2002 and 2003, Chechen rebels continued to use landmines on an almost daily basis against both Russian and civilian targets. Lacking large numbers of commercially produced mines, the rebels most frequently employ improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which were often command-detonated. On 12 February 2002, Russian forces discovered a hidden IED mini-factory. The rebels have disguised their explosive devices as cigarette packets, cans, videocassettes, flashlights, and other innocuous items, then plant them in populated areas.
The rebels also continue to use civilians, including children, to plant landmines and other explosive devices against Russian targets. Civilians are reportedly paid for this work on a graduated scale tied to the impact of the explosion; a Russian truck may bring up to $500, while an armored vehicle fetches more than $1,000. In some cases, rebels have used threats and blackmail to compel such civilian help. - Adam Geibel
