Bussing about in Russia

A bus from Mineralnye Vody to Vladikavkaz takes about five hours via Nalchik. The road was heavily policed with about six checkpoints along the way. Our bus wasn't stopped. I don't think the police like people travelling on their own in this sensitive area. Two days after my bus trip a whole bus was hijacked on the same route (planes had also been hijacked from the same area).