Russia prevented over 300 terrorist attacks in 2025

MOSCOW, March 10, (Xinhua): Russia thwarted over 300 terrorist attacks last year, the country's security service chief said Tuesday. In an interview with Russian media Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Alexander Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service, said Russian law enforcement and security agencies dismantled 79 covert terrorist cells across the country in 2025, and detained more than 2,500 militants and their accomplices.

It prevented 423 terrorism-related crimes last year, including 308 terrorist attacks. Bortnikov, who also chairs the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, added that during recent operations, authorities also foiled assassination attempts targeting senior government officials as well as commanders of the Russian Armed Forces and the National Guard.

Authorities also prevented planned attacks on transport facilities with heavy passenger traffic. The foiled attacks involved improvised explosive devices and firearms.

Speaking about international cooperation, Bortnikov said the current global situation has complicated Russia's counterterrorism cooperation with Western countries. Still, it could eventually resume when "Western elites inevitably change" and "politics gives way to professionalism." Despite the challenges, international counterterrorism cooperation continues, particularly with partners from the Global South, Bortnikov added.