2014 Grozny clashes

2014 attack by Islamist militants in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia

2014 Grozny clashes

Part of Insurgency in the North Caucasus

Date	4 December 2014
Location	Grozny, Chechnya, Russia
Result	Russian-Chechen victory

Belligerents

Russia

Chechnya

Caucasus Emirate

Commanders and leaders

Ramzan Kadyrov

Aslan Byutukayev^[1]

Casualties and losses

14 policemen killed

36 policemen wounded

1 civilian killed

At least 11 killed

Terrorism in Russia

Bold italics indicate incidents resulting in more than 50 deaths. Incidents are bombings, unless described otherwise.
1977	Moscow
1995	Budyonnovsk
1996	Kizlyar-Pervomayskoye Kaspiysk
1999	Vladikavkaz Apartment bombings
2002	Kaspiysk Moscow Grozny
2003	Znamenskoye Tushino Stavropol Red Square
2004	Moscow (February) Grozny Moscow (August) Aircraft bombings Beslan
2006	Moscow
2008	Vladikavkaz
2009	Nazran Nevsky Express
2010	Moscow Kizlyar Stavropol Tsentoroy Vladikavkaz Grozny
2011	Domodedovo
2012	Makhachkala
2013	Volgograd (October) Volgograd (December) GTA gang
2014	Grozny bombing Grozny clashes GTA gang
2015	Metrojet Flight 9268 (going to Russia)
2016	Shchelkovo Highway
2017	Saint Petersburg
2018	Kizlyar
2024	Crocus City Hall

Part of the First Chechen War, War of Dagestan, Second Chechen War, Insurgency in the North Caucasus, Islamic State insurgency in the North Caucasus and Islamic terrorism in Europe

On 4 December 2014, a group of armed militants of the jihadist organization Caucasus Emirate^[2] attacked a traffic police checkpoint outside the city of Grozny, Chechnya, Russia. The militants then entered the city and occupied the "Press House" building in the city center and a nearby school.

According to the BBC, the Islamists had claimed to have launched a suicide attack in response to purported attacks by security forces on Muslim women.^[3]

Timeline

On 4 December 2014, a group of Islamist militants, in three vehicles, killed three traffic policemen, after the latter had attempted to stop them at a checkpoint in the outskirts of Grozny.^[4] The militants then occupied a press building and an abandoned school, located in the center of the city. Launching a counter-terrorism operation, security forces, with the use of armored vehicles, attempted to storm the buildings and a firefight ensued.^[5]

14 policemen, 11 militants and 1 civilian were killed. Additionally 36 policemen were wounded in the incident. The Press House was also burned and severely damaged in the incident.^[6]^[7]

It has been suggested, by The New York Times and The Washington Post writers, that the timing of the attack purposefully coincided with president Vladimir Putin's delivery of an annual state-of-the-nation speech in Moscow.^[8]^[9]

Context

In modern times, the conflict (with the first uprising in 1785)^[10] has included the First Chechen War (1994–1996), the War of Dagestan (1999), the Second Chechen War (1999–2009), the 2002 Grozny truck bombing, and the Insurgency in the North Caucasus (2009–present). Recent events have included the 2010 Chechen Parliament attack, and the 2014 Grozny bombing. The 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis begun by Chechen and Ingush terrorists ended with the deaths of 385 people.

Reactions

Russian president, Vladimir Putin, responded in his annual speech, that "these 'rebels' have shown up in Chechnya again. I'm sure, the local law enforcement authorities will take proper care of them."^[8] The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, said, the "bandits" had died "a dog's death".^[11]

On Kavkaz Center website, a Chechen fighter credited Aslan Byutukayev for the attacks, saying: "There are already results. Allah killed them with our hands."^[12]

Time magazine noted, that Putin's state-of-the-nation speech was greeted at best with polite applause, as Kremlin critic Carl Bildt, Sweden's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, tweeted: "Street battle in Grozny? Moscow should have more pressing priorities than destabilising Ukraine."^[13]

References

^ "In Kremlin speech, Putin rails at West, tries to bolster economy as recession looms". The Washington Post. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
^ Атака на Грозный, Radio Liberty, 6 December 2014.
^ "Russia Chechnya: Deadly rebel attack rocks Grozny". BBC News. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
^ Walker, Shaun (4 December 2014). "Gun battles erupt in Chechnya's capital after militants launch attack". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
^ "Putin thanks Kadyrov, Chechen law enforcers for counterterrorism operation in Grozny". ITAR-TASS. Moscow. 5 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014. Alt URL
^ "В спецоперации в Грозном уничтожено 11 боевиков, заявил Кадыров". 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
^ "Во время спецоперации в Грозном погибли 14 полицейских". 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Chechen militants attack Grozny, shattering peace as Putin gives speech". The Washington Post. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
^ Kramer, Andrew E.; MacFarquhar, Neil (4 December 2014). "Islamic Militants Wage Fierce Attack on Grozny, Chechnya's Capital". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
^ Gall, Carlotta; De Waal, Thomas (1 November 1999). "Chechnya: Calamity in the Caucasus". NYU Press. p. 38.
^ Parfitt, Tom (4 December 2014). "At least 19 people dead as Islamists clash with police in Chechnya". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
^ Luhn, Alec (5 December 2014). "Chechnya's Islamist Insurgency Rears Its Head Once Again in Deadly Grozny Gunfight". Vice News. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^ Simon Shuster (4 December 2014), "Putin's Rambling State of the Nation Speech Unnerves Russia's Elites", Time