Four servicemen in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya have been killed after the armored infantry vehicle in which they were traveling hit a hidden explosive device.
The Interior Ministry said another seven troops were injured in the incident, which took place Thursday during a reconnaissance operation near the village of Yandi, some 40 kilometers outside the Chechen capital, Grozny.
Police gave no indication of who they believe set the bomb. An investigation is ongoing.
Chechnya was devastated by separatist conflicts in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, but has since attained a degree of stability under Kremlin-backed local strongman Ramzan Kadyrov.
An Islamist insurgency continues to claim the lives of police and security service officers in neighboring North Caucasus provinces, especially in Dagestan, which lies east of Chechnya.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
