In the WAR Report reflections on 2004 and projections for 2005 (WAR Report), Russia was undergoing political, economic, and security flux. A wave of spectacular terrorist attacks that peaked in the summer of 2004, to include the attack on the Beslan school , brought the increasing terrorist threat from the Chechen Rebels to an apex and square onto the world stage. The Russian government felt vindicated by their counter-terrorism policies that had often been criticized in the West as an invalid approach to combating the scourge of terrorism that the global community faced. During this time, Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen to be consolidating his power domestically?partly claiming increasing security as a justification and, thereby, slowly eroding certain journalistic, economic, and political freedoms. Russia also began to assert itself in a more contrarian mode internationally, lowering expectations of warmer relations that ensued after the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Just a year ago, this author predicated that freedoms would continue to be eroded in Russia and that terrorism and violence would continue to pervade Russia and its environs. It seems that trend has continued to evolve.

Russia has scored some victories against terrorists and has taken the offensive against terrorists, culminating in the killing of former Chechen President and Rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov. While there have been no high-profile attacks like Beslan in 2005, the violence has certainly not ended. There have been a series of attacks against Russia, to include Chechnya and neighboring republics. Some of these have been paramilitary in nature, targeting security officials and police forces, whereas others have been more traditional indiscriminate acts associated with terrorism. There have also been a number of failed attacks, uncovered plots, and attacks that did not take as large a toll as they could have. It would also appear that violent acts are spreading beyond the Chechen conflict that may be inspired by Chechen Rebels and groups associated with them. This may be either direct organization and possible actions or inspiration to other groups that may be forming. The October 2005 raid in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria against government facilities involved many locals and the Yarmuk but is thought to have been inspired and planned by Chechen groups.