By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Coordinated Assaults in Dagestan Result in Significant Casualties
Attacks on police posts, churches, and a synagogue in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan have resulted in the deaths of 19 police officers and several civilians. Six gunmen were also killed.
The coordinated attacks targeted the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala during the Orthodox festival of Pentecost. While the assailants have not been officially identified, Dagestan has a history of Islamist attacks.
Sergei Melikov, the head of the republic, indicated that the perpetrators were known, without providing specific details. Two churches and a synagogue were targeted in Sunday's attacks, along with a police post in Makhachkala, Dagestan's largest city. An Orthodox Church priest was among the victims.
Melikov stated that several civilians had lost their lives, including Father Nikolai Kotelnikov, who had served in Derbent for over 40 years. Melikov also announced three days of mourning starting Monday.
In a video on Telegram, Melikov suggested that the attack had been planned abroad and linked Dagestan's situation to Russia's war in Ukraine. "We understand who is behind the organisation of the terrorist attacks and what goal they pursued," he said.
Dmitry Rogozin, a leading Russian nationalist in occupied Ukraine, cautioned against attributing every attack to "the machinations of Ukraine and Nato," warning of potential serious consequences.
Footage posted on social media shows individuals in dark clothing shooting at police cars, followed by a convoy of emergency service vehicles arriving at the scene. In Derbent, gunmen attacked a synagogue and a church, both of which were set on fire. A police vehicle was also reportedly attacked in the village of Sergokal.
Police detained Magomed Omarov, head of the Sergokalinsky district near Makhachkala, following reports that two of his sons were involved in the attacks. Russian news agencies reported on Monday morning that the counter terrorism operation launched after the attacks had concluded.
Dagestan, one of Russia's poorest regions, is predominantly Muslim. Between 2007 and 2017, a jihadist organisation called the Caucasus Emirate, later known as the Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus, carried out attacks in Dagestan and neighboring Russian republics.
Following an attack on the Crocus City Hall venue near Moscow in March, authorities blamed Ukraine and the West, despite the Islamic State group claiming responsibility. President Vladimir Putin had asserted that "Russia cannot be the target of terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists" due to its "unique example of interfaith harmony and inter religious and inter ethnic unity."
However, three months ago, Russia’s domestic security service, the FSB, reported thwarting an IS plot to attack a Moscow synagogue. Since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, the official narrative has emphasized Ukraine and the "collective West" as principal adversaries, a message authorities are reluctant to change to avoid public doubt.