Russia Mourns After Deadly Attacks in Dagestan
Tragedy struck Russia’s southern region of Dagestan as suspected Islamic militants unleashed a devastating rampage, resulting in the loss of 19 lives, most of whom were police officers. The coordinated assaults targeted churches and synagogues in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent, plunging the area into mourning for three days.
The Investigative Committee of Russia confirmed that all five attackers were killed during fierce battles, while 15 police officers were among the casualties. Among the victims was Reverend Nikolai Kotelnikov, a 66-year-old Russian Orthodox priest in Derbent, who was brutally killed inside his church. The attackers also set fire to the church during the Orthodox Pentecost celebrations.
Following the attacks in Derbent, militants continued their onslaught by targeting a police checkpoint in Makhachkala. Special forces eventually hunted down and eliminated the assailants, but not before causing injuries that led to 16 hospitalizations, including four officers in critical condition.
Islamic Extremism in the North Caucasus
Authorities attributed the bloodshed to Islamic extremists in the predominantly Muslim region of the North Caucasus, marking one of the deadliest attacks in Russia since a previous incident in March. An affiliate of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the chaos, praising the militants in Dagestan for their strength and coordination.
Dagestan Governor Sergei Melikov pointed to the existence of Islamic “sleeper cells” with foreign ties as the root cause of the attacks, emphasizing the perpetrators’ goal of instilling fear and panic among the population.
These horrific events unfolded amidst heightened tensions in Russia due to recent antisemitic incidents, such as the storming of a local airport in Dagestan in 2023 and a thwarted attack on a Moscow synagogue in April. Critics warned of the dangers of stoking antisemitic sentiment amid ongoing global conflicts and the invasion of Ukraine.
