(Vatican Radio) Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered new security measures
across Russia following two suicide attacks killed dozens of people within two days
in the southern city of Volgograd.
Local residents remain concerned however
after Monday's attack on a trolley bus killed 15 people and Sunday's blast at the
main train station took at least 18 lives.
Security forces are seen in Volgograd
around what was once a blue and white trolley bus, powered by overhead electric cables.
It is now reduced to a twisted, gutted carcass. Bodies have been seen across
the street after a suicide bomber reportedly blew himself up in the bus during rush-hour.
DOZENS KILLED
It came hours after a similar attack on the main train
station. More than 30 people are now known to have died in those attacks, prompting
President Vladimir Putin to react.
In remarks aired by Russia Today television,
Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov confirmed that security has been stepped
up.
“We are putting our forces on high alert in the entire region. Also as
President Putin ordered, every family that suffered from these attacks will be compensated,”
he said.
"We are also establishing constant air communication with Volgograd
and from there we will be transporting all the injured to Moscow, St. Petersburg and
other regions," the minister added.
SURVIVORS SHOCKED
Yet the measures
have done little to ease the pain of anxious residents, including survivors of Monday's
trolley bus attack. "The explosion came totally unexpected, I didn't understand it"
a visibly upset man recalled.
"Everywhere was glass, windows were blown away.
We went there to help victims. Others also helped. They put some of the injured passengers
in their cars and rushed them to hospital," he said.
Militants fighting for
an Islamic state have been blamed for the recent suicide attacks after a Chechen warlord
threatened to interrupt the Winter Olympics in the Black sea resort of Sochi.
Analysts
say militants wanted to send a message by targeting Volgograd as is the site which
will host several football matches during the 2018 World Cup.
Additionally
the city is seen as important for Russians' sense of national identity since, when
known as Stalingrad, its Soviet defenders held off German invaders to turn the course
of World War II.