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 military manuals. In the meantime, those who will be involved in combat operations have the opportunity to undergo specialized training at a training center near Makhachkala. Instead of sending cannon fodder to war, well-trained soldiers are being sent. I remember the words of one of the contract soldiers, Sergeant Vladimir B.: "This is the fourth time we've faced the militants. There's no fear. Let them be afraid of us. We'll take revenge for everything. For the fallen soldiers. For the army, and for Russia." Eternal memory to those who fell...

The actions of the federal troops were unconditionally supported by the civilian population. Since ancient times, home, family, and pastures for livestock have been at the core of the values of this poor but courageous and resilient people. The treachery of the Chechen bandits and their mercenaries has disrupted the already fragile balance in the region. In a matter of days, people have lost everything. Nowadays, you can say whatever you want about the local authorities' negligence, but they were there when the pillboxes and bunkers were being built, and the collective farm equipment was digging trenches in the rocky soil near the villages. The bandits were extremely polite at the time, and they paid for everything in foreign currency. Did the people of the mountain villages understand the price they would pay for those dirty dollars? Now they are refugees, too. They have no homes, no farms, and no livestock. In the eyes of the people of the mountains, they are the most unfortunate.

There are hundreds and thousands of them today. They are ready to do anything to avenge their honor and to pay tribute to the murderers and looters.

... It's the same picture everywhere. At every step, there are people in camouflage, often carrying weapons. They are given priority on public transportation and are allowed to skip the line in stores. This is not out of fear. It is out of respect. The hospital's sister-in-law complained that the wounded were unable to consume the fruits and vegetables that were brought by local residents. Free hot meals for soldiers and police officers at checkpoints have become the norm in almost all villages where federal forces are stationed. People understand that this may be the only force that can protect them from trouble.

Realizing that they could not reach an amicable agreement with the Dagestanis, the Chechen extremists decided to destabilize the situation in the republic. The barbaric terrorist attacks in Buynaksk, Moscow, and Volgodonsk, the seizure of villages in the regions bordering Chechnya, and other acts of violence are further proof of this. The goal of Basayev, Khattab, and all those behind them is to prevent ordinary people from living and working peacefully, to involve as many people as possible in the endless process of blood feuds, and to create discord between Makhachkala and Moscow in every possible way. It is already clear that the process of confrontation between the federal authorities and Muslim extremists will be long and painful. Will the state have the determination, consistency, and willpower to bring it to a logical conclusion? This is crucial. Through diplomatic, economic, and political means, we must restore the confidence of the peoples of the Caucasus in their future, their ability to work, and their integration into a unified state.

As for the army, it is ready to fulfill its duty honestly and to the end. Let it be a dangerous and difficult job. Today, it is necessary.

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