The attack in Dagestan, Russia, June 23, 2024. (Photo: Provided by witness/VOV's correspondent in Russia)

In a statement on her Telegram account, Matviyenko described the incident in Dagestan as carefully planned, intricately calculated, and financed by foreign entities to disrupt the cohesion of Russian society.

The Interior Minister of the Republic of Dagestan said Monday that the attack was a profound tragedy for the victims and their families. The assault on religious sites was orchestrated to fuel animosity and division in the Russian populace. He said the government will safeguard peace and unity in Dagestan, a region where people of diverse religions and ethnic backgrounds coexist harmoniously. The perpetrators of the attack will face appropriate consequences, the minister said.

The Russian Investigative Committee reported that a group of armed individuals on Sunday launched attacks on two Orthodox churches, two synagogues, and traffic police stations in Derbent and Makhachkala, Dagestan.

The assaults resulted in the deaths of 20 individuals and left 46 others wounded. Security forces neutralized five individuals linked to the attacks and identified them. The Committee has initiated inquiries into allegations of terrorism, as well as the procurement, possession, transportation, and theft of weapons.