Russia to defend drone attack
AFP
AFP, MOSCOW: Russia will reportedly deploy jamming devices used in Syria and the war in Ukraine to defend World Cup stadiums against a drone attack.
The threat of terror has been a prime concern for organisers of the June 14 to July 15 football showpiece.
Russia has been hit by a string of suicide bombings since winning the right to host the worlds most watched event in 2010.
Some have been blamed on militants from the north Caucasus with ties to the Islamic State group in Syria.
Russias military bases in the war-ravaged Middle East nation have also been targeted by deadly drone attacks this year.
The possibility of someone using the increasingly ubiquitous devices to drop a bomb on a stadium is one Russias defence ministry is not taking lightly.
Moscows RBK news site said army chief Valery Gerasimov issued orders in February to set up jamming stations outside the 12 stadiums that would make remotely operating a drone impossible.
A source in the Russian defence ministry told RBK that some of the units are still classified as top secret and only available to the FSB security service.
Others have reportedly been set up in Syria and spotted in east Ukraine by European monitors of the four-year conflict between Kiev forces and Russian-backed separatists.
Russia has set up dozens of no-flight zones and other air space restrictions for the coming months.
These cover not only the stadiums and 11 host cities but also training grounds and hotels that will be used by the 32 participating national teams.
