In a series of devastating attacks, armed militants targeted two Orthodox churches, a synagogue, and a traffic police post in the southern republic of Dagestan, Russia. According to Russian state news agency Tass, the attacks resulted in the deaths of a priest, a church security guard, and at least six police officers.

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee of Russia confirmed in a statement that the attacks were carried out by "terrorists" who targeted a Russian Orthodox priest and police officers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Dagestan reported that a group of armed men fired upon a synagogue and a church in the city of Derbent, located along the Caspian Sea. The attackers managed to escape, and a search operation is currently underway.

Tragically, the church and synagogue were set on fire during the assaults, intensifying the devastation caused by the attackers. Simultaneously, reports emerged of an attack on a traffic police post in the capital city of Makhachkala, the largely Muslim region. According to RIA Novosti, this attack claimed the lives of six policemen, with an additional 12 officers sustaining injuries.

Shamil Khadulaev, the deputy chairman of the public monitoring commission of Dagestan, confirmed the deaths of a priest in Derbent and a church security guard in Makhachkala. The Muftiate of Dagestan, a state-supported administrative body, reported a total of nine fatalities, including seven policemen. The attacks also left 25 individuals injured.

Dagestan's Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that four militants had been "eliminated" in Makhachkala. However, no group has claimed responsibility for these acts of violence as of yet. While some officials in Dagestan speculated that Ukraine and NATO could be behind the attacks, no concrete evidence has been presented to substantiate these claims. Dagestan has a history of Islamic militancy, adding to the complexity of the situation.

President Ramzan Kadyrov of neighboring Chechnya condemned the attacks, labeling them as a "vile provocation" aimed at sowing discord between different religious groups.

Authorities in Ukraine have not yet responded to the allegations made by some officials in Dagestan. As investigations continue, the focus remains on apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to justice for the horrific crimes committed in Russia's Dagestan region.