Russian

Flashpoint 

7 dead in clashes between police, militants in Russia south

Dagestan is a mostly Muslim region between Chechnya and the Caspian Sea, and it has been a breeding ground for Islamic militants who mount regular attacks on police and officials. Some of the militants have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group, and hundreds of local residents have joined the IS in Syria and Iraq. 

Russia fought two wars against separatists in the neighboring province of Chechnya after the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

DYI:

Geography plays a key role in Russian defensive position as long as the mother land is firmly in the Caucasus’ mountains, once lost the lowlands are wide open for radical Islamic northern drift providing a tempting target for Russia’s southern agricultural crown jewel Volgograd.  This is why Russia will flex their military firepower in areas such as Chechnya and Ossetia to firmly maintain their grip tactically and strategically in the mountains. 

As always Turkey is Russia’s main competitor in this region.  Don’t be misled by all of the happy talk between the mother land and the aspiring redo of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey); during best of times aggressive competitors and the remainder bitter enemies.  Don’t think for a minute Ankara – capital of Turkey – wouldn’t fund radical Islamic organizations to do the dirty work in their northern move to fill in the gap between the Ukraine and Kazakhstan capturing Volgograd Russia’s southern food distribution center. You can bet on it.  A flashpoint for war between Turkey and Russia is always a possibility.

DYI