between Russia and Chechnya and its historical background. Included is a description of the history of the North Caucasus and the countries lying there. Presented the reasons for which began the expansion of Russia in these areas. Shows how people of the Caucasus fought the regime of Tsar and the power of the new Soviet state. The publication presents the key moments in the escalation of the conflict and the ways in which both parties have used to solve the problem. Events in Ukraine are similar to a forgotten problem that erupted on the border of Europe and Asia in the first half of the nineties of the last century. Concerned and still concerns on two entirely different cultures and other nations, however, the main subject of action in both cases is the Russian state. The similarity to the situation prevailing at present in Ukraine is undisputed. Knowledge of how to prevent such incidents is currently weak and does not allow use of effective remediation methods for this type of situation. Past experience shows, however, what methods should not be used to avert this type of conflict.