A TM-62-M anti-tank mine planted under a rail was recovered on June 13 on the section of the Abkhaz railway currently being repaired by Russian Railway Forces, Alexander Drobishevsky, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, said on Saturday.

“An attempt to carry out a subversive-terrorist act has been made against servicemen of the Russian Federation’s Railway Forces, which are on a humanitarian mission in Abkhazia to repair rail infrastructure there,” RIA Novosti quoted Drobishevsky as saying.

Interfax news agency reported, quoting Drobishevsky as saying that an anti-tank mine had been placed “approximately 10 to 30 days ago.”

He also said that the Railway Forces - sent to Abkhazia in late May - were currently working on the section between Sokhumi and Ochamchire, which included the repair of railway bridges.

Tbilisi has condemned the deployment as a prelude to military intervention. Moscow, however, has said it is a humanitarian measure aimed at “the socio-economic rehabilitation” of the region.