From the Rybar Telegram channel

On militant attacks in the North Caucasus
what is known by the end of 23 June 2024

The celebration of one of the most revered Orthodox holidays, Holy Trinity Day, was marred not only by the hitting (https://t.me/rybar/61193) of a cluster rocket on a beach in Sevastopol, but also by a series of terrorist attacks in the Caucasus region.

▪️ In the evening, militants staged a series of attacks in the Republic of Dagestan. In Derbent, gunfire was opened near the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the building of the Kele-Numaz synagogue was set on fire. Meanwhile, in Makhachkala, at about the same time, unknown persons fired on a traffic police post and then staged a series of attacks in the north-west of the city, including in the vicinity of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

▪️ According to the latest data from the region's Interior Ministry, nine people were killed, including seven police officers, and 25 others were injured. The death at the hands of terrorists of Archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov, rector of the Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is widely discussed on the Web.

▪️ It is known about the liquidation of two militants, as well as the detention of two men on a beach in Makhachkala - according to preliminary information, they may be connected with the attackers. At the same time, the regional media noted that the liquidated participants of the attack may be the sons of the head of one of the territorial entities of the republic.

▪️ An anti-terrorist operation regime is currently in effect in Dagestan. According to unconfirmed information, law enforcers are fighting with the still surviving militants in the area of the restaurant "Hayal" near the synagogue Kele-Numaz in Derbent, as well as in the vicinity of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Makhachkala. Various information about 40 militants' hostages in the school is circulating on the web, but it is not confirmed by law enforcers.

▪️ More shooting incidents took place in neighbouring Abkhazia. Shooting was recorded at the Psou border checkpoint and in the area of Novy Afon: one person was killed and four wounded. According to one version, the reason for the shooting was a conflict of business interests.

🔻 Of course, we can call all this something from the category of conspiracy, but there are several moments in the attack in the North Caucasus, which indicate a clear and quite good preparation of terrorists.

➖ The first thing that comes to mind is timing. It started almost simultaneously, which indicates that the groups coordinated their actions either among themselves or through handlers (which is most likely).

➖ The second is the tactics of the militants, which was rightly pointed out by Archangel Spetsnaz (https://t.me/rusich_army/15380). The way they attacked police posts, handled weapons and used surrounding objects for cover - ordinary bearded men are incapable of this.

➖ Well, and most importantly, the key point in today's events is the date. That Ukrainian formations struck on Holy Trinity Day and that militants of terrorist organisations attacked Dagestan and Abkhazia on the same day.

Such love for symbolism cannot be instilled in ordinary extremists of the IS (the latter attacked at any convenient moment, rather than adjusting everything to a certain date). One can't help but remember the terrorist attack in Crocusa, where external influence was also traced.

In general, the attack on Sevastopol and the attack on the North Caucasus seem to be aimed at stressing the population. Do you remember how the AFU used to hit the Atakms before? Clearly on one target along one route with a salvo of missiles.

There were no spontaneous launches of missiles at several different places where there were a large number of people present. What do we get at the end of the day? The people are tense and demanding reprisals, no matter who. The main thing is that there must be a guilty party. And if there is none, the reason will be found in their neighbours.