Moscow, 17 December 1999 (RFE/RL) -- Russia's Minister for
Emergency Situations, Sergei Shoigu, says that he is ready to talk with
anyone who can help in evacuating civilians from Chechnya's embattled
capital, Grozny. But in remarks last night on Russia's state-run ORT
television, Shoigu ruled out any "second Khasavyurt." He was referring to
the accords signed by Russian General Aleksander Lebed and Chechen leader
Aslan Maskhadov in August 1996 that ended Russia's first war in the
republic. Shoigu said some 4,500 civilians have already left Grozny and
estimated that from 8,000 to 35,000 people remained in the capital. Russian forces continued to strike rebel targets in southern
Chechnya as well as the outskirts of Grozny. The Russian military's press
center said two Russian soldiers were killed in the last 24 hours and 30
rebels. Six rebel vehicles were said to have been destroyed.
Russian military and government officials are still denying their forces conducted any assault on Grozny on Wednesday night. But the German news agency (dpa) quotes (unnamed) military officials as admitting that 25 soldiers in a Russian reconnaissance unit were killed in fighting that night.
Russian military and government officials are still denying their forces conducted any assault on Grozny on Wednesday night. But the German news agency (dpa) quotes (unnamed) military officials as admitting that 25 soldiers in a Russian reconnaissance unit were killed in fighting that night.