MOSCOW, July 14 (UPI) -- Russian officials said eight wanted militants were killed in two major operations in Russia's North Caucasus republics of Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria.
The gunmen were part of the Sergokala and Izberbash militant groups, ITAR-Tass reported.
"Two of them have been preliminarily identified," a spokesman for Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee said Saturday.
One was identified as Islam Magomedov, the alleged leader of the Sergokala group. He had been on the federal wanted list since 2010 for organizing and participating in assaults on police officers, among other things.
The other was identified as Arsen Magomedov, nicknamed Abdula, the leader of the Izberbash gang. He has also been on the wanted list since 2010. He was allegedly involved in a number of slayings of police officers and civilians and in bombings of freight trains.
"However, police sustained losses in the operation: One serviceman of Russia's internal troops was killed and two others were wounded. One policeman was wounded. There were no casualties among civilians," the spokesman said.
