Russian soldiers reported killed in Chechnya

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Six Russian soldiers were killed early Friday in an attack on a National Guard base in Chechnya, local media reported.

The incident took place around 2.30 a.m. (2330GMT) in northwestern Naurskaya village by unidentified armed militants, according to Russian news agency TASS.

"During the fighting, all the gang members were neutralized," TASS said, quoting the country’s National Antiterrorism Committee.

It reported six militants were killed and there were also injuries among National Guard servicemen, without giving exact numbers.

Daesh later claimed responsibility for the attack, TASS reported.

"The Islamic State [another name for Daesh] terrorist grouping has assumed responsibility for an attack on the Russian Guard base in the township of Naurskaya, the Chechen Republic," TASS quoted a spokesperson for the Russian Guard public relations section as saying.

"The fact proves once again the Russian Guard units are on the forefront of struggle with international terrorism," the spokesperson added.

Firearms and ammunition were also found on the bodies of the assailants, according to TASS.

A team from the Federal Security Service has been working in the area, it added.

Kremlin condemnation

President Vladimir Putin called the attack a "tragic" event, the Kremlin said in a statement.

"We all live in such difficult conditions. We must realize the reality of this danger and join forces in the fight against terrorism," Putin said during a meeting with French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in Moscow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was in control of the situation in Chechnya.

"No country in the world is immune from attacks by terrorists. Unfortunately, they can happen everywhere," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.

Viktor Zolotov, Commander of the National Guard Troops of Russia, condemned the "vile" attack, TASS said.

After the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, Chechnya declared independence. Russia responded by sending troops to Chechnya, in a bitter conflict which lasted from 1994 to 1996.

The bloody war finally ended with a cease-fire agreement in 1996.

In 1999, Russia reinvaded the self-governing republic of Chechnya.