UPDATES WITH REMARKS OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, KREMLIN SPOKESMAN AND CHIEF OF NATIONAL GUARD
By Diyar Guldogan
ANKARA (AA) - Six Russian soldiers were killed early Friday in an armed attack on a Russian National Guard base in Chechnya, local media reported.
The incident took place around 2.30 a.m. (2330GMT) in northwestern Naurskaya village of Chechnya by unidentified armed militants, according to Russian news agency TASS.
"During the fighting, all the gang members were neutralized," TASS said, quoting the National Antiterrorism Committee.
It reported six militants were killed and there were also injuries among the National Guard servicemen, without giving exact numbers.
Fire arms and ammunition were found on the bodies of assailants, according to TASS.
A team from the Federal Security Service has been working in the area, it added.
President Vladimir Putin called the attack a "tragic" event, the Kremlin said in a statement.
"We all live in such difficult conditions. We must realize the reality of this danger and join forces in the fight against terrorism," Putin said during a meeting with French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was in control of the situation in Chechnya.
"No country in the world is immune from attacks by terrorists. Unfortunately, they can happen everywhere," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
Viktor Zolotov, Commander of the National Guard Troops of Russia, confirmed the "vile" attack claimed the lives of six "comrades" who "honorably" fulfilled their military duty and prevented numerous victims among civilians, TASS said.
After the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, Chechnya declared independence. Russia responded by sending troops to Chechnya, who fought Chechens from 1994 to 1996.
The bloody conflict finally ended with a cease-fire agreement in 1996.
In 1999, Russia reinvaded the self-governing republic of Chechnya.