Terrorist Attacks of 1999: Unanswered Questions

The terrorist attacks of 1999 involved explosions in residential buildings in Moscow, Buynaksk, and Volgodonsk. The central questions remain:

• What was used for the explosions?
• Where did the explosives come from?

Official Contradictions vs. Independent Scrutiny

The contradictory positions held by representatives of the FSB, MVD, and the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation necessitate turning to an independent analysis.

Comparison with US Post-9/11 Investigation

The text draws a contrast with the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States:

• The report from the special US Congressional commission was extensive and published almost in its entirety.
• Attempts by the administration to classify certain pages caused significant public indignation and negatively affected the American president's image.
• Society formed its own opinion based on available documents, facts, and official evidence, allowing independent experts to assess the situation. This process notably led to the removal of the head of the CIA.

The Russian Situation

In Russia, the situation is markedly different. Nearly six years after the bombings in Moscow and Volgodonsk, Russian society still cannot obtain clear and unambiguous answers from state representatives regarding elementary questions:

1. Exactly what explosives or mixtures were used in the attacks?
2. Most importantly, what is the origin of the dozens of kilograms of explosives—substances that are extremely difficult to acquire or transport without state knowledge?

Insoluble Problems in Official Statements

Attention to these two points is crucial because they are fundamental to understanding the crime. After such attacks, the public naturally seeks to know not only who committed the bombing but also with what and where the materials originated. However, these simplest points have become an insoluble problem for the leaders of the FSB and MVD.

Official public statements fundamentally contradict each other and fail to present a unified picture.

The Hexogen Question

Currently, it remains unclear whether hexogen was used in the residential building bombings or if it was not used at all.

The question of hexogen is fundamentally important because:

• It repeatedly enhances the destructive effect of an explosion.
• It is extremely complex in terms of production, storage, and transportation.

It is critical to note that all work involving hexogen must be conducted under industrial conditions using specialized, sometimes remote, equipment due to its high detonation capability and the precision required for its industrial production.

Footnote: Hexogen (according to a scientific reference) is a fine-crystalline, white, tasteless, and odorless brisant (i.e., "shattering") explosive substance belonging to the group of high-power explosives. Regarding ammunition, the term "hexogen" refers to phlegmatized hexogen in products, such as hexogen blocks (designated "A-IX-1") or phlegmatized hexogen mixed with TNT and other explosives ("A-IX-2").