Deadly Attacks on Religious Sites and Police Posts in Russia’s Dagestan Leave 19 Dead
Coordinated attacks on places of worship and police posts in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan have resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals, including police officers and civilians, in a wave of violence that has shocked the nation.
The attacks occurred on Sunday, coinciding with the Orthodox festival of Pentecost, and targeted multiple sites in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala.
The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed that 15 police officers and four civilians were killed in the attacks, including Father Nikolai Kotelnikov, a 66-year-old Orthodox priest who had served in Derbent for over 40 years.
Additionally, at least 16 people sustained injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The assault was reportedly carried out by six gunmen, who were later “liquidated” by Russian security forces.
Footage and images circulating on social media showed dramatic scenes of flames and thick smoke billowing from a synagogue in Derbent, while gunmen in black attire were seen opening fire on police vehicles in Makhachkala.
The attackers also targeted an Orthodox church and another synagogue in Makhachkala, further heightening the sense of alarm.
Sergey Melikov, the head of the Republic of Dagestan, declared three days of mourning across the region, with state flags lowered to half-mast in honor of the victims. In a statement, Melikov expressed his condolences to the families affected and promised financial assistance for them. He also hinted at the possibility of foreign involvement, mentioning the existence of “sleeper cells” possibly organized from abroad.
Russian law enforcement agencies have launched a comprehensive counter-terrorism operation, which has now concluded, according to state-run news agency TASS. The National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC) reported that the situation was brought under control, and investigations are ongoing to identify all individuals involved in the attacks.
Although no group has officially claimed responsibility, the Russian media and officials have been quick to suggest potential links to international terrorist organizations.
Some officials, including Melikov, have implied that Ukraine and NATO might be behind the attacks, aiming to destabilize the region amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
However, this claim has been met with skepticism by some, including Russian nationalist Dmitry Rogozin, who warned against hastily attributing all terrorist activities to foreign adversaries.
The attacks come just three months after an ISIS affiliate, ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for a deadly assault on Crocus City Hall in Moscow, which resulted in over 140 deaths. The recurrence of such violent incidents has raised concerns about the resurgence of militant activities in Russia’s restive regions.
Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region with a history of separatist and militant violence, has been relatively quiet in recent years compared to the tumultuous 1990s and early 2000s.
During that period, the region experienced significant unrest, similar to neighboring Chechnya, which saw two brutal wars.
The region’s small Christian and Jewish communities, targets of the recent violence, have expressed fear and uncertainty. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that the synagogue in Derbent was completely destroyed, although no Jewish worshipers were present during the attack.