The Russian republic of Dagestan experienced a shocking wave of violence on June 23, 2024, as coordinated attacks targeted religious sites and law enforcement facilities. The assaults, which took place in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, left more than 15 police officers and several civilians dead, including an Orthodox priest. The incidents have sent shockwaves through the region and raised concerns about security in the North Caucasus.
The attacks began on Sunday evening when gunmen opened fire on two Orthodox churches and a synagogue in Derbent, a city known for its ancient Jewish community in the predominantly Muslim region. Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke rising from one of the churches, while the synagogue was reportedly set ablaze. The violence then spread to Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, where attackers targeted a police post. The coordinated nature of the assaults suggests a level of planning and organization that has alarmed authorities.
In response to the attacks, local law enforcement agencies swiftly mobilized to neutralize the threat. Sergei Melikov, the Head of the Republic of Dagestan, announced that six of the attackers had been "liquidated" during the operation. However, the identities of the assailants remain unknown, and investigations are ongoing to determine their affiliations and motives. The Russian news agency TASS cited law enforcement sources claiming that the gunmen were members of "an international terrorist organization," though this information has not been independently verified.
The Israeli foreign ministry provided additional details about the attacks on Jewish sites in Dagestan. According to their statement, the synagogue in Derbent was completely destroyed by fire, and shots were fired at a second synagogue in Makhachkala. Fortunately, it is believed that no worshippers were present in the synagogues at the time of the attacks. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of religious minorities in the region and the potential for further sectarian violence.
The attacks in Dagestan come just three months after a deadly assault on the Crocus City Hall near Moscow, where 133 people were killed in a mass shooting at a rock concert. While the Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack, Russian authorities alleged Ukrainian involvement without providing evidence. This latest incident in Dagestan has reignited fears of terrorism and instability in Russia, particularly in the volatile North Caucasus region.
Dagestan has a complex history of separatist violence, particularly during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, in recent years, the level of conflict in the republic had significantly decreased compared to neighboring Chechnya, which experienced two brutal wars during the same period. The coordinated nature of these attacks on civilian religious infrastructure marks a departure from recent trends and has shocked Russians across the country.
The incident also recalls tensions that surfaced in October of the previous year when hundreds of people stormed the airport in Makhachkala in response to a flight arriving from Israel. That event resulted in at least 60 arrests after protesters broke through security and reached the runway, shouting anti-Jewish slogans. The latest attacks on religious sites in Dagestan have further heightened concerns about inter-communal relations and the potential for escalating tensions in the region.
