Russian Troops Open Fire on Chechen Refugees, Leaving at Least Nine Dead

Russian troops opened fire on a convoy of cars carrying Chechen refugees, killing at least nine people, officials and witnesses said. The shooting occurred on Saturday night, just inside the Ingush border with Chechnya, where refugees have been pouring in since Russia dispatched troops last week.

Key Takeaways:

• At least nine people, including five men and four women, were killed in the attack on the convoy of cars carrying Chechen refugees.
• The shooting occurred on Saturday night, just inside the Ingush border with Chechnya, where refugees have been pouring in since Russia dispatched troops last week.
• Russian troops stopped the eighth car in the convoy and shot dead the driver, before attacking the remaining refugees trying to escape from the last three cars.
• A Russian armoured vehicle flattened one car and badly damaged another, while machine gun cartridges were scattered on the ground.
• Survivors reported that the military allowed the first seven cars to pass, but attacked the last three, including the one carrying Satsita Abubakarova, a witness.
• The body of a Russian soldier, from the mainly Muslim republic of Bashkortostan in the Urals, was found nearby with a single bullet wound to the shoulder.

Statistics:

• At least nine people were killed in the attack.
• Five men and four women were among the dead.
• Three wrecked cars were found on the scene, including one that was flattened and two with bullet holes.
• Machine gun cartridges were scattered on the ground.
• The Russian army had dispatched troops to Chechnya last week, leading to a significant influx of refugees into surrounding areas.

Sources:

• Reuter