On May 5, Sergey Melikov, the Head of Dagestan, announced that a driver opened fire on Interior Ministry officers in Makhachkala after refusing to stop, resulting in casualties and a subsequent armed clash that left several dead and injured, including civilians.
At approximately 14:20 [local time] in Makhachkala, unidentified assailants attacked a traffic police unit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Dagestan. The Interior Ministry confirmed that three policemen were killed in the attack, while the perpetrators fled in a commandeered squad car. A special security operation under the “Interception” plan was immediately launched to apprehend the attackers.
Melikov stated that the attackers ambushed the officers from behind while they were performing routine duties, seizing their firearms and a service vehicle before attempting to escape. Law enforcement officers subsequently neutralized two of the assailants, identified as Akhmed Shamilovich Alilmagomedov and Batal Magomedovich Magomedov, both born in 2000. The Investigative Committee of Dagestan initiated criminal cases under Article 317 of the Russian Criminal Code (attempt on the life of law enforcement officers), Article 166 (hijacking without intent to steal), and Article 226 (theft of weapons).
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan provided updated information, reporting that two police officers were killed and two others hospitalized with injuries. Additionally, three civilians—a 40-year-old woman, a 17-year-old girl, and another bystander—were wounded in the crossfire and received medical assistance.
In his address, Melikov expressed condolences to the families of the fallen officers and condemned the assailants for targeting civilians in broad daylight. He described the attackers as “subhumans” who, driven by obscure beliefs, endangered innocent lives. Melikov emphasized the importance of unity, praised the solidarity of Dagestanis who supported the police during the incident, and urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information. He assured that all those connected to the attack would face severe punishment and confirmed that the situation in the city had stabilized.