A Chechen rebel surrenders to a Russian soldier

February 3, 2000
Web posted at: 1:11 p.m. EST (1811 GMT)

GROZNY, Russia (CNN) -- The fighting between Russian troops and Chechen rebels in Grozny was winding down Thursday, but the political prize of Chechnya's capital city is a smoldering ruin and the battle for the breakaway republic is far from over.

Russian forces were carrying out what they said was a cleaning operation amid the smoky rubble. They found Chechen rebels who were unable to escape Russia's tightening grip on Grozny. The rebels surrendered to an uncertain fate.

"We blocked a group of Chechens in one building and kept up such a heavy barrage they couldn't even stick their noses out," boasted Major Vladimir Sobolev. "After a while, they shouted they were eager to surrender and come out, about 20 of them."

From among the ruins, the soldiers pulled out machine guns, anti-tank grenade launchers, and sniper rifles -- proof, they said, of the Chechens' real aims.

"They all say they are innocent civilians," one soldier said. "What would innocent civilians be doing with all of these weapons?"

But the Russian soldiers have also found terrified women and children who had been trapped, usually in unheated basements and with no provisions, by months of near-constant Russian artillery barrages -- illustrating the uglier side of Russia's bid to rid Chechnya of the militants who fought for the republic's independence for much of the 1990s.

Terrified civilians emerged from the ruins of the Chechen capital

Rebels likely to launch guerrilla attacks

Even as Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev claimed a "decisive breakthrough" in Grozny, the rebels claimed thousands of their fighters had escaped, and Russian officials said "pitched battles" remained ahead in some parts of the city.

"We will get organized in the mountains," said rebel commander Khizir Khachukayev, who said more then 3,000 fighters had fled Grozny. "It was much better for Russians when we were concentrated in Grozny. Now that we are going to be in the mountains, they will face more trouble."

Russian forces are carrying out what they call a "cleaning operation"

Still, the rebels lost a number of fighters during the exodus -- including at least three top commanders. Shamil Basayev, the leader who spearheaded rebel forces during the 1994-1996 war, was reportedly badly wounded. The rebels acknowledged he had been hurt, but denied his injuries were severe.

Russia suffered disatrous troop losses in the 1994-96 campaign and essentially lost control of the republic of Chechnya.

Their losses are not likely to deter the rebels from launching guerrilla attacks from their mountain outposts, a tactic similar to the one they used during the earlier war. That war ended when the rebels retook Grozny in a surprise attack.

Corespondent Steve Harrigan, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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