[3] On 4 December 2014, a group of Islamist militants, in three vehicles, killed three traffic policemen, after the latter had attempted to stop them at a checkpoint in the outskirts of Grozny.

Launching a counter-terrorism operation, security forces, with the use of armored vehicles, attempted to storm the buildings and a firefight ensued.

The 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis begun by Chechen and Ingush terrorists ended with the deaths of 385 people.

[11] On Kavkaz Center website, a Chechen fighter credited Aslan Byutukayev for the attacks, saying: "There are already results.

"[12] Time magazine noted, that Putin's state-of-the-nation speech was greeted at best with polite applause, as Kremlin critic Carl Bildt, Sweden's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, tweeted: "Street battle in Grozny?