On June 23, in Dagestan, alarming reports emerged of armed terrorists attacking Orthodox churches and synagogues in Derbent and Makhachkala. Armed militant groups killed a 66-year-old priest (Derbent) and a security guard (Makhachkala). In addition, terrorists burned down a synagogue and attacked a police post in Makhachkala, killing two law enforcement officers. 

In response to these attacks, a counter-terrorist operation regime was declared in Dagestan. There were skirmishes throughout the day in various locations in Makhachkala and Derbent. 

The Ministry of National Policy and Religious Affairs of Dagestan condemned the terrorist attacks as barbaric and aimed at destabilizing the region. Dagestan's Ministry stated, "A series of cruel and barbaric armed attacks have been committed against religious sites and law enforcement officers. As a result of the committed terrorist attacks, there are dead and injured among representatives of the republican clergy and employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Dagestan. The armed attacks were committed on Holy Trinity Day, which concludes the Easter period for representatives of the Orthodox Church, as well as church services. There is no doubt that this bloody provocation is directed against all traditional religions of Dagestan: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam." The ministry emphasized that these acts of terror were attempts by enemies to destabilize the socio-political situation during a time when Russia was conducting a special military operation to eradicate extremism and terrorism. 

The number of victims due to terrorist acts in Makhachkala and Derbent amounted to 46 people, 20 people were killed, the press service of the Dagestan Health Ministry said on Monday. According to official data, Russian security forces killed five terrorists. 

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that a local cell of the organization "Wilayat Khorasan," banned in Russia, was involved in the terrorist attacks. The Russian unit of the Al-Azaim media center, associated with the IS praised the "brothers from the Caucasus" for their actions. ISW suggested that this reference indicates the involvement of “Wilayat Kavkaz.”

On June 24, the head of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, declared, "This is a day of tragedy for Dagestan and the whole country. Melikov offered no further information, other than to accuse foreign-directed Islamic "sleeper cell" members of the crime. In a video statement, he claimed that the attackers wanted to sow panic and fear and tried to link the attack to Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine.

A three-day mourning period was declared in Dagestan in connection with the June 23 terrorist attacks.