Russia's southern republic of Dagestan continues to grapple with the aftermath of a series of deadly attacks that claimed the lives of 20 people, mostly police officers, and left dozens injured. The assailants, who remain unidentified, launched near-simultaneous attacks on a Jewish synagogue, two Orthodox Christian churches, and a police station in the capital city of Makhachkala and the coastal city of Derbent.

Authorities have opened a criminal probe into "acts of terror," although no direct claim of responsibility has been made. As the investigation is ongoing, questions and theories continue to circulate about who was behind the attacks. Critics of the government argue that the Kremlin's preoccupation with the war in Ukraine has led to security lapses and a failure to recognize emerging extremist threats within Russia.

The attacks took place less than three months after gunmen from an Islamic State splinter group carried out a massacre in a Moscow concert hall, leaving hundreds dead and injured. Amidst the chaos, Kremlin loyalists have propagated conspiracy theories, suggesting that the attack was part of a wider Western plot to undermine Russia from within.

Local officials, on the other hand, believe that the attackers aimed to exacerbate violence in Dagestan, a region that has struggled with extremism in the past. Sergei Melikov, the Kremlin-appointed head of the Republic of Dagestan, emphasized the importance of unity in the face of this tragedy, stating that it was an attempt to divide the community.

The attacks coincided with the Orthodox Christian holiday of Pentecost, as the assailants set fire to an icon in Makhachkala and killed an elderly priest in Derbent. The synagogue in Derbent, which has a historic Jewish community, was also targeted and severely damaged. A related incident took place when gunmen launched an attack on a police station in Makhachkala, resulting in a significant number of casualties.

Amidst the chaos, a manhunt for the attackers was initiated, leading to the killing of five assailants. However, questions still linger about the number of gunmen involved and whether any managed to escape. The identities and motives of the attackers also remain unknown.

Dagestan, as well as the broader southern region of Russia, has a history of extremist violence. Russia has previously fought two wars against separatist militants in neighboring Chechnya, and incidents like a pro-Palestinian mob overrunning Dagestan's airport have exposed the region's vulnerabilities to internal conflicts.

The Russian branch of the Islamic State splinter group known as ISIS-K applauded the attacks in a statement, claiming that the gunmen had responded to their call. Nonetheless, the United States, Ukraine, and NATO, have not commented on the attacks.

As the country mourns the loss of lives, there are concerns about Russia's ability to address its own internal troubles. Some Kremlin allies stress the need to avoid assigning blame to external forces for every act of terrorism, warning that this could lead to larger problems.

Dagestan's head, Sergei Melikov, has ordered a review of all leadership positions in the republic, raising the possibility of sleeper cells operating within the region. Despite the tragedy, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov assured the public that this incident does not signal a return to the violent outbreaks of the past, stating that Russian society remains consolidated against criminal and terrorist acts.