They report that hundreds of women and children were killed by Russian troops. The attacks began the night of April 7-8. The town is near the Chechen border with Ingushetia. The village was completely sealed off April 9. No one was allowed to leave and journalists and the International Committee of the Red Cross workers were denied access.
Refugees report having seen women, children and old people being run over by tanks and others shot.
Many village inhabitants hid in the cellars of their houses. Russian soldiers, after destroying houses, reportedly bombed the cellars too, killing those inside. Russian authorities say the attack was necessary because Chechen fighters were hiding in the town. Reportedly, many Russian soldiers were also killed in the attack on Samashki. When the Mothers' March for Life and Compassion passed through Samashki two weeks ago, around 50 Chechen fighters were based there to protect the village from attacks.