CHECHNYA: BATTLE FOR GROZNY & URUS-MARTAN

(9 Dec 1999) Russian/Nat

Kavkaz TV, the pro-rebel television station operating in Chechnya, has distributed what it says are recent pictures of Chechen fighters allegedly fighting Russian Federal Forces in the mountainous region of Yermolayevskaya and Alkhan-Yurt, about 40 kilometers from Grozny.

Meanwhile, the Russian military claimed on Thursday that it now controlled the key Chechen town of Urus-Martan after weeks of fierce fighting, but said its forces were still bombarding separatist fighters in the town.

However, Russian forces have claimed to seize rebel strongholds before, only to later admit that the insurgents still held them.

This amateur video was made available to APTN through Chechen TV.

It purports to show Chechen fighters on the frontline, fighting the Russian Federal army some 40 kilometres north of the capital of Grozny.

The separatist fighters appear to be well-armed and in good spirits, contrary to wide held views that they are being bombed into oblivion from the air by the Russian Air Force.

The Chechen leadership has always said the true battle will begin when Russian troops engage their men on the ground in street to street fighting, where Moscow lost the last war in 1994-1996.

But on Thursday Russia claimed that its army took full control of the rebel stronghold of Urus-Martan, 12 miles southwest of Grozny.

A Russian victory in Urus-Martan, 12 miles southwest of Grozny, would close off a key approach to the capital and further hamper rebel supply lines.

Russian forces also pummelled targets in the capital, Grozny, and to the southeast, in Shali and Serzhen Yurt, the Russian military command said.

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