In Dagestan, the medical response to the June 23 terrorist attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent remains steady as doctors continue to treat nineteen injured individuals. Officials from the health ministry provided updates, emphasizing that a portion of those hurt are in serious condition. The medical teams across the region have mobilized to stabilize patients, monitor critical cases, and ensure rapid access to the most advanced treatments available in local hospitals. The focus of the care is on maintaining vital functions, managing trauma-related injuries, and supporting the recovery process with multidisciplinary squads coordinating treatment plans for each victim.
According to Deputy Minister of Health Alexey Kuznetsov, the group of nineteen victims in Derbent and Makhachkala continues to receive in-hospital care, with six patients categorized as seriously ill. Medical authorities have stressed that the situation requires careful observation, as some injuries can evolve in the days following such incidents. Hospital wards across Dagestan have been prepared to handle ongoing needs, including surgical interventions when necessary, intensive care for those in danger, and rehabilitation services to support full recovery for survivors and those with long-term effects from the violence.
In related developments, children who previously helped distribute water to security staff during the crisis were recognized for their quiet resilience. The gesture highlighted how ordinary acts of courage can arise in moments of extraordinary danger, underscoring the broad social impact of the attacks and the communal response that followed. The acknowledgment reflects a broader pattern of civilian solidarity that often accompanies such incidents, reminding residents of the importance of compassion and unity in the face of tragedy.
On June 25, a high-ranking official decision brought another note of gravity to the day’s events. Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted a proposal to award a Dagestan priest the Order of Courage in recognition of his dedication to saving people during a church emergency. The act of honoring a religious leader who intervened to protect lives during the attack is seen as an affirmation of the courage demonstrated by community members who confronted danger directly, often at great personal risk while trying to safeguard others inside the affected church building and nearby areas.
Investigations and official briefings trace the events to the afternoon of June 23, when assailants launched an armed attack at the Church of the Intercession of Our Lady on Lenin Street in Derbent and targeted the Kele-Numaz synagogue on Tagi-Zade Street. Simultaneously, gunfire erupted at locations in Makhachkala, including a nearby traffic police station on Ermoshkin Street and another synagogue. Clashes also unfolded near the Holy Assumption Cathedral on Ordzhonikidze Street, signaling a coordinated assault that unsettled several key community centers in the region. Authorities described the security response as rapid and coordinated, with law enforcement units engaging gunmen and deploying emergency medical services to manage the influx of casualties. The day’s sequence underlined the vulnerability of places of worship in the urban landscape and the importance of rapid emergency readiness for municipal services and security forces alike.
Earlier statements from officials indicated that the son of the former head of Sergokalinsky district had appeared in the public discourse with remarks that were described as highly religious in tone. The comment, while part of broader commentary surrounding the case and the community response, was noted in official summaries as part of the contemporaneous social context in Dagestan, where religious identity often intersects with public life in complex ways. The episode serves as a reminder of how personal histories and local leadership can become focal points during crises, shaping conversations about resilience, faith, and community values in the aftermath of terror.