Fight in Grozny is third major militants' action in Chechnya since the beginning of 2014

The today's armed clashes in Grozny became the third major action of the armed underground in Chechnya after the terror act in October and blow up of an infantry combat vehicle (known as BMP) in April.

According to estimates of the "Caucasian Knot", from the beginning of January until the end of November this year in Northern Caucasus killed 290 people and 144 were injured, among them 24 people were killed and 27 were wounded in Chechnya.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that tonight in the centre of Grozny a DPS (road-and-post service) car was blown up near the House of Press. After this, a shootout began of the power agents with militants presumably of the grouping of Aslan Byutukaev, known as "Amir Khamzat", said a source from the local law enforcement bodies. The armed clash moved into the building of the House of Press, where, according to the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, nine militants were killed and 10 policemen perished.

On October 5, the Day of Grozny, a major terror act was committed in the Chechen capital – a suicide bomber blew him up at the entrance to the concert hall, which celebrations were underway. As a result, five law enforcers were killed and 13 were wounded.

On April 3, during the engineering reconnaissance, an infantry fighting vehicle (known as BMP) with an engineering outfit of internal troops inside blew up on a hidden explosive device. The blast hit all the 11 crew members who were in the BMP, four of them died on the spot.

The intensity of the armed conflict for 11 months of 2014

During the first 11 months of 2014 – from January 1 to November 30 – the "Caucasian Knot" recorded at least 26 acts of sabotage and terror acts, and at least 137 shootouts and clashes with members of the armed underground, which happened in the regions of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD).

During this period, 434 people fell victim to the armed conflict, including 290 casualties and 144 wounded persons.

By the total number of incidents – armed clashes and terrorist acts – Dagestan is in the lead. During the first 11 months of 2014, at least 16 explosions and at least 95 shootouts and armed attacks were registered there. 280 people suffered in Dagestan, including 196 casualties and 84 wounded people.

The runner-up is the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) with its two terror acts and 22 armed clashes, where 59 people suffered, including 42 killed and 17 wounded ones.

Ingushetia registered 3 terror acts and 10 shootouts, in which 32 people suffered: 17 of them were killed and 15 wounded.

In Chechnya, from January through November, there were 3 terror acts and 7 shootouts, in which 51 people suffered: 24 casualties and 27 wounded persons.

The Stavropol Territory recorded one terror act and two shootouts: 11 people suffered – seven civilians and three suspected militants perished, and one law enforcer was wounded.

North Ossetia recorded one triggering of an IED (improvised explosive device) and one armed clash; one person was lost.