Planned Attacks by Militants in Makhachkala and Derbent

The targets of the militant attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent were not chosen spontaneously, but were premeditated, with the initial intention of killing priest Nikolai Kotelnikov. This was reported by the newspaper "Izvestia," citing a source familiar with the investigation.

According to the publication's interlocutor, this was discovered by examining the correspondence on smartphones confiscated from the militants. It is also said that the attack was planned for a month, and the terrorist cell might have been concentrated around a small prayer house in the Sergokaly District of Dagestan.

Izvestia's source noted that other locations were also targeted during the preparation for the attack, including a synagogue in Derbent and Orthodox churches in both Derbent and Makhachkala.

In total, the terrorist incidents in Dagestan resulted in 20 deaths and 46 injuries. According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, five militants were killed.