1 of 9
Violence once again came to Russia's turbulent Caucasus region, this time in Nalchik, capital of Kabardino-Balkaria.

2 of 9
Rebels launched near-simultaneous attacks on government buildings, targeting police stations, the federal security services offices and the airport among others.

3 of 9
It led to fierce clashes between the police and rebels, with heavy gunfire and explosions heard across the city.

4 of 9
One school had to be evacuated, with parents searching frantically for their children, as the fighting closed in.

5 of 9
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the city to be sealed off, and troops to shoot any armed resisters.

6 of 9
The estimated number of casualties varied, but dozens of rebels, security forces members and civilians were killed.

7 of 9
Dozens of people were also wounded in the clashes.

8 of 9
Kabardino-Balkaria is near war-torn Chechnya; Nalchik is 100 km (60 miles) from Beslan, where more than 300 people died in last year's school siege by Chechen rebels.

9 of 9
Militants from Chechnya have claimed responsibility for this latest attack, according to a pro-rebel website.