MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian serviceman was injured after a landmine exploded in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, a police source said.

The incident occurred on Monday as the Defense Ministry group was carrying out a search operation in a forest in the Shatoysky district of the republic.

"As a result of the explosion, the group's deputy commander was injured. He has been hospitalized," the source said.

Chechnya saw two separatist wars in the 1990s and early 2000s. Militant attacks remain fairly common in the troubled republic.