Dagestan in Mourning: Deadly Attacks on Synagogues and Church Claim 7 Lives

In Russia’s Dagestan province, a series of coordinated attacks resulted in the loss of lives for six police officers and a priest. The cities of Derbent and Makhachkala were the targets of these violent incidents, which specifically aimed at religious sites and a police checkpoint.

Derbent experienced attacks on both a church and a synagogue, while in Makhachkala, gunmen targeted another synagogue and a police traffic stop.

Reports from the region indicate that an additional twelve law enforcement officers sustained injuries, although the exact locations of these injuries have not been disclosed. It is worth noting that the two cities are approximately 120 kilometers apart.

Following these attacks, two assailants were killed, according to RIA Novosti, which cited Dagestan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. Shamil Khadulaev, Chairman of the Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission, confirmed the brutal killing of Father Nikolay, a priest at the Derbent church. Khadulaev reported that Father Nikolay, who was 66 years old and in poor health, was found with his throat slit.

Additionally, a security guard at the church, armed only with a pistol, was shot. Other priests took refuge inside the church, awaiting assistance.

In Derbent, the synagogue was set on fire, with images showing thick smoke and large flames engulfing the building. Around the same time, a synagogue and a police traffic post in Makhachkala also came under gunfire.

The Israeli foreign ministry described these incidents as a “combined attack” on the synagogues. They reported that the Derbent synagogue was completely destroyed, resulting in the deaths of local guards. The synagogue in Makhachkala was targeted with gunfire, but no further details were provided.

The ministry emphasized that there were no known casualties among the Jewish community, as there were no worshipers present at the time.

Sergey Melikov, the head of the Dagestan Republic, addressed the situation on Telegram, stating that local police officers successfully prevented attempts to destabilize the region.

It has been verified that officers have suffered casualties and an operational headquarters has been set up to oversee the response, with a counteroperation named “Interception” currently in progress.

Melikov has appealed to the residents to remain composed, stressing that the attackers’ objective is to provoke panic and fear, which he firmly believes will not prevail in Dagestan.

The Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Dagestan has initiated a terrorism investigation in accordance with the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Efforts are underway to ascertain the identities of all those implicated in the attacks and ensure they are held accountable under the law.