zpostcode
Moscow theater hostage crisis of 2002
Apr 26, 2025 12:08 AM

  Moscow theater hostage crisis of 2002, hostage taking by Chechen militants at the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow, Russia, that lasted from October 23 to October 26, 2002. It ended when Russian Spetsnaz (special forces) troops of the anti-terrorist Alfa command filled the theater with a gas. At least 150 people died, the vast majority of them as a result of the effects of the gas.

  As the collapse of the Soviet Union was accelerating in 1991, leaders in Chechnya declared independence. Russia invaded Chechnya in 1994, and years of fighting devastated the region. As their cities were obliterated by Russian forces, Chechen separatists called for new strategies, which meant guerrilla tactics in Chechnya and attacks on civilians in Russia. It was in this context that some 50 heavily armed Chechen fighters under the leadership of warlord Movsar Barayev entered a Moscow theater during a performance of the popular Russian musical Nord-Ost and took the audience of 850 people hostage. The Chechens, who had prepared the assault for months beforehand, demanded the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from their homeland.

  At first, the militants released 150 hostages (women, children, and foreigners), but on the second day of the siege conditions inside the theater began to deteriorate, and a number of people were shot. On the morning of the third day, Russian special forces, who had set up their headquarters in the basement of the theater complex, prepared for an all-out assault. Noxious gas was sprayed into the theater to incapacitate the Chechen fighters; the hostages were affected too, and many died as a result of the gas.

  The total number of people who died during the crisis is disputed, as is the number of hostages and their captors. Most of the nine known non-Russian hostages who died were citizens of former Soviet republics; one citizen of the Netherlands and one American were also among the fatalities. It is believed that most, if not all, of the hostage takers were killed—executed, eyewitness reports state, after they were incapacitated—and perhaps as many as 200 members of the audience died.

  The gas used by Russian special forces is thought to have been a vaporized derivative of fentanyl, a pain-relieving drug 100 times more powerful than morphine. The security services refused to disclose what the gas was in the immediate aftermath of their assault on the theater; doctors and paramedics were left to guess what first aid they should administer to counteract its effects. As a result, many of the injured were permanently harmed by inappropriate treatment.

  Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now In the aftermath of the theater crisis, far from withdrawing from the breakaway republic, President Vladimir Putin intensified Russian military operations against Chechen rebels in a campaign that ended only in 2009.

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Recommend >
Information Recommendation
The Tête à Tête
  The Tête à Tête painting by William Hogarth Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Tete-a-Tete Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Tete-a-Tete Also known as: “Marriage A-la-Mode: 2, The Tête à Tête”, “Shortly After the Marriage” Written by Ana Finel Honigman Ana Finel Honigman is a New York- and London-based critic, curator, and...
Ted Koppel
  Ted Koppel American journalist and news broadcaster Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ted-Koppel Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ted-Koppel Also known as: Edward James Martin Koppel Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of...
Anne Lamott
  Anne Lamott American author Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anne-Lamott Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anne-Lamott Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's...
Google Gemini
  Google Gemini generative AI Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/technology/Google-Gemini Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/technology/Google-Gemini Also known as: Google Bard Written by Frannie Comstock Frannie Comstock is a writer based in Chicago. Frannie Comstock Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they...
Industrials sector: Investing in big companies that do big things
     When envisioning the pillars of American industry, numerous products and services come to mind: heavy machinery for transportation, farming, and defense; building products, electrical equipment, and machine parts; and an array of functions, from supply chain consulting to basic facility services, like plumbing and janitorial duties.   What is the industrials sector?The industrials sector comprises companies that produce capital goods—products...
Naval Battle of Campeche
  Naval Battle of Campeche Mexican history [1843] Actions Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X...
Leslie Jones
  Leslie Jones American actress Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leslie-Jones Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leslie-Jones Also known as: Annette Leslie Jones Written by Leigh Goldstein Leigh Goldstein is a feminist media researcher based in Montreal. Leigh Goldstein Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas...
spot price
  also called:cash priceSpot price is the current price at which you can buy or sell an asset for immediate delivery and settlement. Also called the cash price, spot prices typically fluctuate throughout the day due to changing supply, demand, and expectations. The spot price of physical goods will also vary by region due to local supply and demand as well...