Gunmen carried out a coordinated attack on places of worship in two cities of Russia's Dagestan province, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 police officers, an Orthodox priest, and several civilians. The attacks targeted churches, synagogues, and police posts in Derbent and Makhachkala, cities located about 120 kilometers apart. Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region in the North Caucasus, has a history of separatist and militant violence.
The violence in the region has been exacerbated by Russia's conflict in Ukraine, where ethnic minorities have been involved in fighting. The attackers, described as 'militants,' were engaged by security forces, resulting in the deaths of at least six of them. The situation escalated with large flames and smoke seen emanating from a synagogue in Derbent and armed individuals firing at a police car in Makhachkala.
