After the two consecutive terrorist attacks in Russia's Volgograd, authorities are conducting a large-scale special operation involving over 5 000 Interior and Defense Ministry servicemen.

The operation has been codenamed Vikhr-Anti-terror (Whirlwind-Anti-Terror).

The information was reported by Andrei Pilipchuk, a spokesperson to the Volgograd Region's National Anti-Terror Committee, cited by the Voice of Russia.

"In Volgograd, police officers and internal troops have gone to a heightened security mode. Since Monday morning, the Vikhr-Antiterror operation has been underway. More than 4 000 Interior Ministry servicemen are taking part in it," Pilipchuk has said.

According to him, 268 search crews and 142 investigative units are working in the city. They are attaching particular attention to public places, including train stations, shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, kiosks, carwashes, and other private sites.

After the two deadly attacks, the US has offered to Russia to provide assistance with security during the Winter Olympics in Sochi. British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin and also offered help in the fight against terrorism.

A UN Spokesperson, however, stated that the terror acts were a matter of national security for Russia and they did not see the need to provide assistance.

The Voice of Russia cites the Chief Directorate of the Russian Emergency Ministry for the Volgograd Region reporting that the number of victims of two terrorist acts in Volgograd has grown to 33. Earlier, it was reported that 17 people died as a result of an explosion at the railway station Sunday and 14 people during the terrorist act in a trolleybus Monday.

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