Moscow, 3 January 2000 (RFE/RL) -- Russian television is showing news reports that contradict official accounts of successes in Russia's military campaign northwest of the Chechen capital Grozny. Russian military officials said today that Russian troops have taken key heights outside of Grozny.
But Russian NTV television quoted Russian soldiers in the field as saying that Russian special forces and Chechen militia allies have lost ground and that more troops have been killed and wounded than official forces concede. This is the 103rd day of Russia's assault on its rebellious Republic of Chechnya. Russian aircraft began bombing Grozny September 23. Ground troops crossed the border a week later.