VORONEZH, November 16. /TASS/. Ukraine is stepping up attempts to shell Russian territory, stage terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage, with over 8,000 separate episodes of shelling by Ukrainian troops reported in the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions this year, Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev told a meeting on security in the Central Federal District.

"The situation in the district remains difficult and is characterized by growing terrorist and sabotage activity. A significant increase in enemy shelling of Russian territory from Ukraine, sabotage activity and terrorist attacks requires further consistent work aimed at ensuring the safety of the population, protection of critical and potentially hazardous facilities, primarily facilities of social, transport and energy infrastructure," he said.

"Over 8,000 shelling attacks have been carried out this year alone on the territory of the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions, the material damage from which amounted to more than seven billion rubles (over $78.7 mln)," Patrushev stressed. "A total of 128 terrorist attacks have been committed in regions of the district, most of them with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. More than 50 terrorism-related crimes were prevented, including 25 terrorist attacks," the top security official added.

In this regard, "it is necessary to promptly finalize regulatory requirements for equipping these facilities with special technical equipment against drones," he said. Also, Patrushev added, it is necessary to "ensure that mobilization plans for the economy of the Russian regions and municipalities are developed."

"I ask the heads of regions and federal executive authorities to personally control the implementation of these tasks. Specific attention should be paid to the safety of biohazardous facilities," he stressed.