Three Russian police officers have been killed and six injured in a gun battle with suspected insurgents in the Caucasus region, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, February 14.

The firefight took place late Monday in a forested region along the district boundary between the regions of Dagestan and Chechnya, some 950 kilometres south of the Russian capital Moscow.

A police patrol came into contact with an armed group of men on Monday evening, Interfax reported citing a police spokesman. The exchange of fire lasted until nightfall.

Government troops were moving to the area early Tuesday and had begun a search of the region.

Rebels, Islamic extremists or bandits are usually held responsible for attacks against government forces in Russia's Caucasus regions.

Pro-Kremlin forces control most cities and towns in the territory, but small bands of insurgents occupy forest and mountain hideouts, M&C said, citing DPA.