Insurgency in the North Caucasus

Quick Facts: Who was Insurgency in the North Caucasus?

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Insurgency in the North Caucasus

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A protracted, low-level armed conflict between Russia and militant groups in the North Caucasus.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The insurgency in the North Caucasus was a low-level armed conflict between Russia and militants associated with the Caucasus Emirate and, from June 2015, the Islamic State, in the North Caucasus. It followed the (Russian-proclaimed) official end of the decade-long Second Chechen War on 16 April 2009. It attracted volunteers from the MENA region, Western Europe, and Central Asia. The Russian legislation considers the Second Chechen War and the insurgency described in this article as the same "counter-terrorist operations on the territory of the North Caucasus region". The insurgency became relatively dormant in its later years.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

During its peak, the violence was mostly concentrated in the North Caucasus republics of Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria. Occasional incidents happened in surrounding regions, such as North Ossetia–Alania, Karachay-Cherkessia, Stavropol Krai, and Volgograd Oblast. While the insurgency was officially declared over on 19 December 2017 when FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov announced the final elimination of the insurgent underground in the North Caucasus, counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus have not ended. In late 1999, Russia's premier, Vladimir Putin, ordered military, police and security forces to enter the breakaway region of Chechnya. By early 2000, these forces occupied most of the region.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

High levels of fighting continued for several more years and resulted in thousands of Russian and Chechen casualties and hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. In 2005, Chechen rebel leader, Abdul-Halim Sadulayev, decreed the formation of a Caucasus Front against Russia, among Islamic believers in the North Caucasus, in an attempt to widen Chechnya's conflict with Russia. After his death, his successor, Dokka Umarov, declared continuing jihad to establish an Islamic fundamentalist Caucasus Emirate in the North Caucasus and beyond. Russia's pacification policy in Chechnya has involved setting up a pro-Moscow regional government and transferring more local security duties to this government. An important factor in Russia's apparent success in Chechnya has been reliance on pro-Moscow Chechen clans affiliated with regional President Ramzan Kadyrov.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1999: 1999 Milestone — In late 1999, Russia's premier, Vladimir Putin, ordered military, police and security forces to enter the breakaway region of Chechnya.
2. 2000: 2000 Milestone — By early 2000, these forces occupied most of the region.
3. 2005: 2005 Milestone — In 2005, Chechen rebel leader, Abdul-Halim Sadulayev, decreed the formation of a Caucasus Front against Russia, among Islamic believers in the North Caucasus, in an attempt to widen Chechnya's conflict with Russia.
4. 2009: 2009 Milestone — It followed the (Russian-proclaimed) official end of the decade-long Second Chechen War on 16 April 2009.
5. 2015: 2015 Milestone — The insurgency in the North Caucasus was a low-level armed conflict between Russia and militants associated with the Caucasus Emirate and, from June 2015, the Islamic State, in the North Caucasus.
6. 2017: 2017 Milestone — While the insurgency was officially declared over on 19 December 2017 when FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov announced the final elimination of the insurgent underground in the North Caucasus, counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus have not ended.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Insurgency in the North Caucasus

True or False: “The insurgency was officially declared over on December 19, 2017, meaning all counter-terrorism operations ceased immediately.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the underground was deemed eliminated on that date, the text explicitly states that counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus have not ended.

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