Chechen guerrillas continue attacks on the military in IngushetiaRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus – During the past several days Russian soldiers have carried out mopping-up operations in the mountain villages of Dattykh and Chemulga in Ingushetia, which have so far not resulted in any arrests.
However, the wide-ranging forests on the Chechen-Ingush border have also come under heavy shelling by massive artillery and aircraft fire. Observers believe that all this indicates that the latest attacks by Chechen fighters caused heavy casualties among Russian soldiers.
A military report states that several days prior to this, an army convoy was attacked in the mountains, and a search of the area uncovered a group of ten guerrillas several kilometres off the road leading to Dattykh.
After a brief skirmish, with no casualties on either side, the guerrillas disappeared into the forest. Most probably, a massive search is being conducted to find these men, which seem to be under the command of Ruslan Gelayev.
Yet another battle erupted on Thursday morning between the guerrillas and the military. A source from the Ingush police told the Prague Watchdog correspondent that a group of 40 men had been spotted near the Chechen-Ingush border by a special military unit.
According to this source, fierce fighting broke out near one of the mountain passes. Five guerrillas and many soldiers were killed. The remaining members of the Chechen resistance managed to escape and are now hiding in the forest. (D/,E,T) |
