Russian forces have killed Rustam Basayev, one of the last remaining warlords in the war-troubled region of Chechnya, in the North Caucasus. Two servicemen were also killed in the encounter.

“The special operation was conducted in Grozny, the Chechen capital, as Rustam Basayev put up resistance but was killed in an exchange of gunfire,” Chechen Interior Minister Ruslan Alkhanov told Russian news agencies.

Alkhanov said Basayev was a close associate of separatist leader Doku Umarov, who has fought Russian forces for over a decade.

Russian forces have killed a number of prominent warlords in Chechnya since President Vladimir Putin came to power, vowing to hunt down and liquidate the remaining rebel fighters.

With the installation of pro-Kremlin Ramzan Kadyrov as President in Chechnya, earlier this year, Russia reasserted overall control of the separatist-minded region, although the wider security situation still remained fraught.

According to media reports, in the region weaponry is easily available, the local police and security forces are acknowledged to be corrupt; and a rapidly growing population of young people has few economic opportunities.

Chechnya was devastated by Russia’ two military campaigns in 1994-1996 and 1999-2001, after which Moscow significantly scaled down its military presence in the republic. However, sporadic fighting and militant attacks on Russian security forces continue in the region.