The last two weeks of June were marked in the North Caucasus by an unprecedented mobilisation to search for a missing eight-year-old Ingush boy who was swept away while rescuing his friend from the Sunzha River. Tens of thousands of volunteers from across the region took part in the search operation, making it one of the largest civilian rescue efforts in the North Caucasus in recent years. At the same time, although Ukrainian drone strikes have contributed to fuel shortages in other parts of Russia, the North Caucasus has so far avoided a major fuel crisis.
The following sections summarise the main developments in the North Caucasus during the second half of June.
Adyghea
The National Folklore Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Adygea, Nalmes, celebrated its 90th anniversary. The jubilee concert was held at the Nalmes Concert Hall and was attended by a number of high-ranking guests, including the head of Adygea, Murat Kumpilov. Representatives from Moscow and other Circassian-populated republics of the North Caucasus also took part in the celebrations. During the ceremony, members of the ensemble received honorary awards from the head of the republic. In his remarks, Kumpilov highlighted the important role of Nalmes in preserving and promoting Circassian culture, both within Russia and internationally.
Nalmes is widely regarded as an iconic ensemble not only for the Republic of Adygea, but for the Circassian world as a whole. Over the past nine decades, it has played a central role in preserving, revitalising, and adapting numerous traditional Circassian dances and songs for stage performance. During the Soviet period, Nalmes’ international tours provided one of the few opportunities for Circassians from the diaspora to interact with performers from their historical homeland. Even after 90 years, Nalmes remains one of the leading dance ensembles and an important symbol of Circassian cultural identity.
Karachaevo-Cherkessia
The republican authorities have begun implementing infrastructure projects in Ust-Dzheguta. In particular, they have launched a resettlement programme for residents of the Moskovsky district, alongside the construction of apartment blocks containing 128 flats. The initiative was launched due to the deteriorating condition of existing housing. Residents have already selected their new apartments as part of the programme. Similar resettlement and housing projects have already been completed in the villages of Besleney and Psauche-Dakhe, in the Khabez District.
Many apartment blocks in peripheral towns across the North Caucasus were constructed during the Soviet period. Since then, limited maintenance and infrastructural renewal has been carried out, resulting in the gradual deterioration of housing stock in many settlements. As a consequence, residents in some areas live with persistent risks linked to poor building conditions.
Local authorities have begun implementing urbanisation policies that include the construction of new apartment blocks for rural residents, such as that in the Khabez District.
Ust-Dzheguta is a town predominantly populated by ethnic Karachays. In the 1990s, it reportedly had an active Salafi jamaat. One of its former residents, Islam Atabiev, also known as Abu Jihad, later rose to a high-ranking position within ISIS during the Syrian conflict.
Kabardino-Balkaria
The number of passengers travelling through Nalchik International Airport has reportedly tripled over the past six months. This growth is attributed to the expansion of flight routes and the increased frequency of domestic connections to various cities across Russia. In addition, the introduction of international flights to Saudi Arabia, particularly those serving Hajj pilgrims, has contributed to the rise in passenger traffic. Overall, approximately 185 passengers are reported to have used Nalchik International Airport during the last half year.
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic is among the most popular tourist destinations for domestic Russian travellers. Ski resorts in the area around Mount Elbrus attract a significant number of visitors, particularly during the winter season. Following the start of the war in Ukraine, restrictions on international travel for Russian citizens and reduced access to European resorts have contributed to an increase in domestic tourism, including in Kabardino-Balkaria. At the same time, it is reported that periodic Ukrainian drone attacks have led to disruptions in the operation of airports across parts of the North Caucasus, impacting regional transport and travel logistics.
North Ossetia
The Republic of North Ossetia–Alania has been experiencing fuel shortages alongside disruptions linked to Ukrainian drone strikes. According to reports, around 20% of petrol stations in the republic have run out of fuel. Although the authorities have not officially introduced restrictions or purchase limits on fuel, they have begun implementing measures to manage the shortage. The North Ossetian government has published a list of petrol stations where fuel remains available, so as to assist motorists. Among the areas most affected is the Digora District, where petrol is reportedly no longer available at local filling stations.
Many of Russia’s largest cities have been experiencing fuel shortages in recent months. Although the problem has not yet reached the same scale in the North Caucasus, there are signs that the region is beginning to experience supply disruptions. If Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure continue, fuel shortages are likely to become more pronounced in the North Caucasus. The region has limited oil-refining capacity of its own and relies heavily on fuel supplies transported from refineries located elsewhere in Russia, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in the national supply chain.
Ingushetia
The Republic of Ingushetia is mourning the death of eight-year-old Khizir Derbichev, who lost his life after rescuing another child from the swollen Sunzha River. According to reports, Khizir jumped into the river to save his friend Adam, who had fallen into the water. Although he succeeded in rescuing the boy, he was himself swept away by the current. Following the incident, a large-scale search operation was launched through social media, with nearly 30,000 volunteers, including Ingush, Chechens, Ossetians, and other residents of the North Caucasus, taking part in searches along the course of the river. Emergency services from both Ingushetia and the Chechen Republic were also actively involved in the operation. Khizir Derbichev’s body was recovered eight days later. His funeral was attended by tens of thousands of mourners from across the North Caucasus, as well as from Georgia.
The North Caucasus witnessed a strong public response to the actions of eight-year-old Derbichev and the subsequent tragedy. Values associated with honour culture, such as courage, bravery, and self-sacrifice for friends, are often described as deeply embedded in the historical memory of the region’s peoples. The incident reportedly led to an unprecedented level of mobilisation across different communities, and was also seen by some observers as a rare moment capable of bringing together groups across the North Caucasus and temporarily softening inter-communal distinctions.
It has been noted that the administration of Ramzan Kadyrov sought to highlight its involvement in the search efforts, with rescue operations in Chechen Republic actively documented, and several high-ranking officials participating publicly in the response.
Chechnya
A new video featuring Adam Kadyrov has circulated online, drawing public attention and controversy. The footage reportedly shows him inside a moving vehicle while filming himself and a passenger, alternating between front-facing and road-facing camera views. In the video, the car is seen crossing a double line, and the speedometer allegedly indicates a speed of around 112 km/h in an area where the speed limit is 50 km/h. The incident has been widely discussed on social media, mainly in the context of road safety violations and the public behaviour of high-profile figures.
This is not the first reported incident involving alleged road safety violations by Adam Kadyrov. Earlier in the year, he was reportedly involved in a serious car accident that is said to have severely impacted his health. Such incidents are often discussed in broader commentary on perceived impunity surrounding members of Chechnya’s leadership circle, including the wider family of Ramzan Kadyrov. Another frequently cited example in this context is the reported beating of imprisoned Russian citizen Nikita Zhuravel, who was accused of burning the Quran. At the same time, some analysts suggest that despite his public visibility, the likelihood of Adam Kadyrov ultimately succeeding in a leadership role in Chechen Republic remains limited.
Dagestan
Less than 22% of those affected by the devastating floods in Republic of Dagestan have reportedly received financial compensation. According to official reports, around 60,000 residents have been paid more than 2 billion roubles in compensation, while more than 200,000 applications for assistance have been submitted. In parallel with the compensation process, local authorities in Laksky District are carrying out repairs to damaged sewage and water supply systems as part of the broader recovery effort.
The slow pace of recovery and delays in compensation following the floods are not new issues in the Republic of Dagestan. The resignation of the former head of the republic, Sergey Melikov, was widely linked to criticism of his administration’s handling of the flood response and broader crisis management. In addition, many mountainous areas of Dagestan continue to suffer from underdeveloped infrastructure and a lack of effective early warning systems for natural disasters. These structural shortcomings leave a substantial proportion of the population particularly vulnerable to floods and other natural hazards.