Chechen Commander claims assassination

Top Chechen rebel commander Doku Umarov has claimed responsibility for the shooting dead of a a Russian Colonel in Moscow last month.

Yuri Budanov was shot dead at close range in a busy Moscow suburb as he walked near a local park. Budanov had been charged with war crimes for the rape and murder of a teenage Chechen girl in 2003 but had only served 6 years in prison.

In a video which only appeared yesterday, Umarov is shown sitting alongside another rebel commander in what are assumed to be the mountains of southern Chechnya. In claiming responsibility for the assassination Umarov says:

"I am addressing you today about a joyous occasion: yesterday, on June 10, Allah by his will brought us a great celebration, punishing one of the sadists, the reprobate, the killer Budanov,"


"The same fate, the same revenge awaits the others," he added.

Doku Umarov is Russia's most-wanted man and is one of the most wanted people on the planet. So far, Russia has claimed to have killed him at least 17 times - although on each occassion such claims have proven to be false. He is suspected of ordering the Moscow Airport Bombing and the Moscow Train Bombings.

However Russian security forces have noted that there has been defections within the ranks of the Chechen Rebels and say that the long delays between attacks and subsequent claims of responsibility show that Umarov and his group are cut off from much of the world.

Fierce fighting in Chechnya

It has been reported that there is fierce fighting between government troops and rebels in the forests around the Chechen town of Vedano.

Local residents have claimed that th enumber of casualties among Russian Police and Soldiers is far higher than what is being reported with some claiming to have seen around a dozen troops either killed or injured.

Chechen rebels have said that casualties among their own forces are unclear at this point although they are believed to be "light".

Rebels clarify Russian Propaganda

Chechen rebels have denied reports that 17 of their fighters including their Commandar Doku Umarov, had been killed in a Russian airstrike.

Speaking to the rebel alligned Kavkaz News Agency, a spokesperson said that only 6 rebels had been killed in the airstrike while 2 rebels along with 2 Russian Secret Service members, one police officer and one soldier had been killed in gun battles in the nearby town of Upper Alkun.

This is the eighth time that Russian Security Forces have claimed to have killed Doku Umarov. Kavkaz however reported that the leader, who is one of the most wanted people on the planet, was safe and well. Reports that his wife had been killed were also denied by the rebel command who said that she continues to command the Martyr Brigade Riyad-us-Saliheen. They did confirm however that one of the dead fighters was a female.

Rebel sources also confirmed the death of long time fighter Emir Supyan (pictured). Supyan had been an active fighter for the last 17 years and had taken part in both the first and second Chechen wars along with the four sieges and battles for Grozny. Rebels described his death as a great loss.

Police Officer wounded in Moscow

A member of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has been shot and wounded in Moscow.

The attack took place outside the Concert Hall on Tsvetnoy Boulevard following a play by a Chechen Performance group. As a patrol car passed by the building a gunman opened fire with an automatic pistol, hitting the vehicles driver in the thigh. The injured officer was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for his injuries.

The gunman is understood to have fled the scene in a stolen vehicle which was recovered a short distance away.

Chechen Rebels claim responsibility for Moscow blasts

Chechen Separatist rebels have claimed responsibility for three bomb attacks in Moscow over the last three days.

On Wednesday a nailbomb exploded outside the Academy of the Federal Security Service (FSB) damaging a number of vehicles and buildings in the area. And yesterday two crude devices exploded at the rear of a set of apartment blocks in Moscow knocking out windows up as far as the ninth floor. There were no injuries in any of the attacks.

Today a rebel run news site has stated that it's members were responsible for the attacks which it described as a carefully planned "sabotage operation". It went on to say that the apartment blocks were targeted because they are used to house members of the FSB.

In claimimng responsibility the Riyadus Salikhin Martyrs Brigade (RSMB) said:

"We intend to continue striking facilities and places where the [FSB] criminals gather"

Chechen Commander appeals for new recruits

Chechen Rebel Commander and self-proclaimed underground President of the Chechen Republic, Doku Umarov, has called for more recruits to help drive the Russian Military from the northern Caucasus.

In a video which was released by the Kavkaz Center, Doku Umarov urges young people to join with his forces in the Caucasus Mountains. He also called on existing rebel units in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria to "intesify operations to eliminate our enemies". He went on to say that rebel attacks would increase as the harsh Caucasian Winter came to an end.

The northern Caucasus has seen an increase in fighting between rebels and pro-Government forces in recent years, with violence in areas like Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria surpassing that of Chechnya. Describing the situation, Umarov said:

"Today there is a total war going on. It is not us who had declared it on Russia, it was Russia who declared it on us. When there is a total war, there are not peaceful people left. If total war has been declare on us, then Allah permits us to fight with them as they fight with us.

Therefore, today we have the right to fight against them the way they are fighting against us. I urge you, fight with them, destroy them."

Gun battle in Chechnya - 2 Rebels killed, claims Russia

The Russian security forces claim to have killed two rebel fighters in a gun battle in Chechnya.

According to media sources, the battle took place in the town of Yandi in the Nockchicho province of the republic. The battle is reported to have lasted around two hours. Pro-Russian Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has said that the rebels were ambushed by elite anti-terrorist units.

Russian security forces and the local police have not disclosed any information as to whether their forces suffered any casualties.

Over 100 civilians killed in Caucasus conflict in 2010

Over 100 civilians died in the ongoing conflicts in the North Caucasus in 2010. These include victims of Russian Security Forces and separatist rebels. Chechnya and Dagestan have remained the most dangerous areas of the Caucasus while there has been a sharp increase in violence in neighbouring Kabardino-Balkaria.

Dagestan - In Dagestan at least 54 civilians died of conflict related deaths in 2010. These included a 9 year-old boy who was shot dead by a stray bullet fired by Security Forces on December 6th during a counter-terrorist operation. A number of those who were killed had been abducted and tortured before their bodies were found dumped in rural areas. The latest victim of such an incident was Zaur Alibekov who was kidnapped and murdered on December 12th. Russia was found guilty of murdering and dissappearing two brothers during the Second Chechen War.

Chechnya and Ingushetia - At least 30 civilians died conflict related deaths in Chechnya and neighbouring Ingushetia last year. In one incident in the town of Arshti on February 11th at least four civilians were killed and 14 wounded in counter-terrorist operations being conducted by Russian forces. It is particularly difficult to verify the number of civilians killed in Chechnya however, as relatives of alleged gunmen have frequently claimed that those killed were in fact civilians.

Kabardino-Balkaria - While little statistics exist for Kabardino-Balkaria there has been a sharp rise in attacks during the year.

Russians fear imminent Chechen rebel attack

Russian forces say that they believe that Chechen rebels have left their main base of operation in the southern mountains. 

Large rebel units based in the Vedeno district frequently carry out attacks on government targets. The area is mountainous and thickly forested making it incredibly dangerous for Russian patrols. Local authorities have said that they have not observed any movement in the area nor have they intercepted any rebel radio communications in recent days. Pro-Russian President Kadyrov has said he believes that the rebels have left the area.

Local experts, however, haave said it is premature to of an abscence of rebel formations due to a lack of radio activity. Speaking to the Caucasian Knot newspaper, experts said that no large rebel columns are active in the mountains anymore and they prefer to operate in smaller cells of around five to ten members, only joining up for large operations such as the attack on the village of Tsentoroi on August 29th, which left 12 Russian soldiers and 5 civilians dead. The expert added that militants rarely used mobile phones or radio communications as they were aware of their vulnerabilities.

Local observers say that militants have their bases in the dense forests in almost all of the foothills in Chechnya and that their long silence in wireless communications may indicate preparations for some sort of major action.

Russian soldier wounded in Chechnya ambush

A Russian soldier was wounded in an overnight attack in the Urus Martan district of Chechnya.

It is understood that a group of Russian soldiers was patrolling the village of Martan-Chu when they came under attack from suspected Chechen sparatists who were taking cover in nearby hills.

One Russian soldier was seriously wounded after he was shot in the head.

Police officer shot dead in Grozny

A police officer has been shot dead in the Chechen capital, Grozny.

It is understood that the attack took place at around 9am in the Mashkadov district of the capital. According to Chechen sources a vehicle checkpoint was fired on by a group of rebels who drove by in a car. The rebels are then reported to have sped away towards the south of the city.

The attack comes just days after seven police officers and four rebels were killed in similar attacks in neighbouring Dagestan.

Russian APC blown up in Chechnya

A Russian Armoured Personnel carrier has been blown up by rebels in Chechnya.

The attack took place in the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya. There are no accurate reports on casualties although Russian forces have admitted that one of their vehciles was hit and at least one soldier was wounded. The Russian Military is well known do play down it's losses suffered in the Chechen republic.

In a seperate incident, one Russian soldier is reported to have been killed near the village of Tangi-Chu after stepping on a landmine.

Currently, Russian forces are carrying out bombing and mortar strikes on thick forests in Achkhoi-Martan and Sunzha in an attempt to flush out a rebel column whoare operating in the area.

Police officer killed in Chechnya

The body of a Police Officer has been found in the Chechen village of Upper Neuber.

Chechen rebels have claimed the officer was eliminated by one of their units.

No other details are available at this time.

Chechen rebel killed in shootout with police

A Chechen rebel was killed and ten Russian police were wounded in a shootout in central Grozny this afternoon.

It is understood that the lone militant was ambushed by Police officers in the Oktyabrsky area of the city and sought refuge in a house from which he opened fire on the officers. A prolonged siege took place before the rebel blew himself up as the police team attempted to enter the building. According to Russian State televison, eight of the officers are described as being in a serious condition.

Russian soldier killed in Chechnya

A Russian soldier has been killed and another seriously wounded in a suspected rebel landmine attack in the foothills of the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya.

The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that:


"Yesterday, at about 1 p.m. in a wooded area near Komsomolskoye village of the Urus-Martan District, a military unit of the Internal Troops of Russia was conducting an engineer-sapper reconnaissance mission when a home-made explosive device was triggered. The explosion killed a soldier, and another one was hospitalized with multiple fragmental wounds. His condition is grave." 

The landmine consisted of 600grams of TNT. An investigation into the incident has been opened.


Source: Chechnya.eng.kavkaz

Bomb defused in Grozny

A large explosive device was defused outside the State Theater and Concert Hall in Grozny, Chehnya, today.

The device consisted of over 6 kilograms of high power explosives along with shrapnel packed into a metal container.

Recent weeks have seen a massive upsurge in Chechen rebel attacks on Russian security forces.

It is difficult to obtain independent reports on events as journalists are banned from the small Republic but it's estimated that around 12 Russian soldiers, 5 Police Officers and 6 Rebels have been killed this week in Chechnya and neighbouring Dagestan.