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December 2013 Volgograd bombings

SOLVED2013Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Russia3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence · ongoing investigation — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

Overview

In late December 2013, the Russian city of Volgograd was struck by two suicide bombings within 24 hours of each other, targeting public transportation. The attacks killed 34 people in total, including the two bombers, and came about two months after a bus bombing in the same city.

The attacks

On 29 December 2013, a suicide bomb equivalent to 10 kilograms of TNT detonated near the metal detectors at the entrance of the Volgograd-1 railway station at approximately 12:45 Moscow time. The blast killed 18 people and injured at least 44, with 38 hospitalized. CCTV cameras captured the explosion. The identity of the bomber was initially disputed, with early reports naming a woman, Oksana Aslanova, and later reports naming a man named Pechenkin, who was reportedly cleared of involvement on 7 January 2014.

The following morning, 30 December 2013, at about 8:30 Moscow time, a second suicide bomber attacked a trolleybus (route 15A) in the Dzerzhinsky district as it passed a city market. The explosion, which appeared to originate at the back of the vehicle, killed 16 people and injured 41, with 27 hospitalized. The remains of the male bomber were sent for genetic testing.

An investigative committee spokesman said the explosives used in both attacks were identical, indicating the bombings were linked.

Claim of responsibility and investigation

On 19 January 2014, Vilayat Dagestan, a subgroup of the Caucasus Emirate led by Islamist militant Dokka Umarov, posted a statement and video online claiming responsibility. The video showed two men, identified as Suleiman and Abdurakhman, preparing explosives.

According to the official Russian investigation, the bombings were organized by a group called Kadarskaya, based in Dagestan and led by Dzhamaltin Mirzayev. Other alleged organizers included Yusup Yakhyayev, Nasrulla Temirkhanov, Arsen Dadayev, Alautdin Dadayev and Ibragim Magomedov. The suicide bombers were identified as Asker Samedov (train station) and Suleyman Magomedov (trolleybus). Two brothers, Magomednabi Bagirov and Tagir Bagirov, were said to have driven the bombers from Dagestan to Volgograd concealed in bales of hay, reportedly aware their passengers were linked to a terrorist cell but not of the specific bombing plot.

On 5 February 2014, Mirzayev, Temirkhanov, Yakhyayev and Arsen Dadayev were killed by law enforcement during a raid. Ibragim Magomedov was arrested in the same raid and testified against Alautdin Dadayev, who was arrested on 20 February 2014; weapons and explosive devices were found at his home.

Trial outcome

On 5 December 2014, Alautdin Dadayev and Ibragim Magomedov were convicted of participation in an illegal armed formation and aiding terrorist activity, and each sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment. The Bagirov brothers were convicted of aiding participants of illegal armed formations and each sentenced to 3 years and 10 months.

Reactions

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Volgograd on 1 January 2014, laid flowers at the trolleybus attack site, visited hospitalized victims, and pledged continued action against terrorism. International bodies including NATO, the International Olympic Committee, and the governments of Chile, Israel, Colombia and the United States condemned the attacks and expressed condolences.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
2013
Location
Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Russia
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2013-10

    A bus bombing occurs in Volgograd, preceding the December attacks.

  2. 2013-12-29

    Suicide bombing at Volgograd-1 railway station kills 18 and injures at least 44.

  3. 2013-12-30

    Suicide bombing on a trolleybus in the Dzerzhinsky district kills 16 and injures 41.

  4. 2014-01-01

    Vladimir Putin visits Volgograd, lays flowers at the trolleybus attack site, and visits hospitalized victims.

  5. 2014-01-07

    Reports state that Pechenkin was cleared of involvement in the bombing.

  6. 2014-01-19

    Vilayat Dagestan, a subgroup of the Caucasus Emirate, claims responsibility for both bombings via an online video.

  7. 2014-02-05

    Mirzayev, Temirkhanov, Yakhyayev and Arsen Dadayev are killed by law enforcement during a raid; Ibragim Magomedov is arrested.

  8. 2014-02-20

    Alautdin Dadayev is arrested; weapons and explosives are found at his home.

  9. 2014-12-05

    Alautdin Dadayev and Ibragim Magomedov are convicted and sentenced to 19 years; Bagirov brothers convicted and sentenced to 3 years 10 months each.

Best coverage

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People

  • Dzhamaltin Mirzayev

    CONVICTED

    Identified by investigators as leader of the Kadarskaya group that organized the bombings; killed by law enforcement during a raid on 5 February 2014.

    citation on file

  • Asker Samedov

    CONVICTED

    Identified as the suicide bomber in the 29 December 2013 Volgograd-1 railway station bombing; deceased in the attack.

    citation on file

  • Nasrulla Temirkhanov

    CONVICTED

    Identified as involved in planning the bombings; killed by law enforcement during a raid on 5 February 2014.

    citation on file

  • Magomednabi Bagirov

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of aiding participants of illegal armed formations for driving the bombers to Volgograd; sentenced to 3 years and 10 months.

    citation on file

  • Alautdin Dadayev

    CONVICTED

    Convicted on 5 December 2014 of participation in an illegal armed formation and aiding terrorist activity; sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment.

    citation on file

  • Arsen Dadayev

    CONVICTED

    Identified as involved in planning the bombings; killed by law enforcement during a raid on 5 February 2014.

    citation on file

  • Suleyman Magomedov

    CONVICTED

    Identified as the suicide bomber in the 30 December 2013 trolleybus bombing; deceased in the attack.

    citation on file

  • Yusup Yakhyayev

    CONVICTED

    Identified as involved in planning the bombings; killed by law enforcement during a raid on 5 February 2014.

    citation on file

  • Tagir Bagirov

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of aiding participants of illegal armed formations for driving the bombers to Volgograd; sentenced to 3 years and 10 months.

    citation on file

  • Ibragim Magomedov

    CONVICTED

    Convicted on 5 December 2014 of participation in an illegal armed formation and aiding terrorist activity; sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment.

    citation on file

Places

Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Russia

48.7125, 44.5135

View on the map

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Two suicide bombings a day apart struck a railway station and a trolleybus in Volgograd, Russia, in December 2013, killing 34 people including both bombers. A Dagestan-based militant cell linked to the Caucasus Emirate's Vilayat Dagestan claimed responsibility, and several members were later killed or convicted.
Where did the crime happen?
Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, Russia.
Who was convicted?
Dzhamaltin Mirzayev (Identified by investigators as leader of the Kadarskaya group that organized the bombings; killed by law enforcement during a raid on 5 February 2014.), Asker Samedov (Identified as the suicide bomber in the 29 December 2013 Volgograd-1 railway station bombing; deceased in the attack.), Nasrulla Temirkhanov (Identified as involved in planning the bombings; killed by law enforcement during a raid on 5 February 2014.), Magomednabi Bagirov (Convicted of aiding participants of illegal armed formations for driving the bombers to Volgograd; sentenced to 3 years and 10 months.), Alautdin Dadayev (Convicted on 5 December 2014 of participation in an illegal armed formation and aiding terrorist activity; sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment.), Arsen Dadayev (Identified as involved in planning the bombings; killed by law enforcement during a raid on 5 February 2014.), Suleyman Magomedov (Identified as the suicide bomber in the 30 December 2013 trolleybus bombing; deceased in the attack.), Yusup Yakhyayev (Identified as involved in planning the bombings; killed by law enforcement during a raid on 5 February 2014.), Tagir Bagirov (Convicted of aiding participants of illegal armed formations for driving the bombers to Volgograd; sentenced to 3 years and 10 months.), and Ibragim Magomedov (Convicted on 5 December 2014 of participation in an illegal armed formation and aiding terrorist activity; sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.

Sources

  1. December 2013 Volgograd bombingswikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — BBC Newsnews · BBC News · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — The Guardiannews · The Guardian · 2026-07-07
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