WAR IN CHECHNYA: FEDERAL MILITIAMEN TWICE ATTACKED, 17 WOUNDED YESTERDAY

After a relative respite, hostilities have again resumed in the flat country of Chechnya. And it should have been anticipated. For over a month, reports have been coming from the republic of rebels penetrating into villages and towns in the plain. Yesterday, a lorry carrying servicemen of the Special Purpose Militia Detachment (OMON) from the city of Volzhskoye (Bolgograd Region) was blown up when it hit a radio-controlled mine in Grozny. 14 militiamen received various-gravity wounds and were admitted to hospital. The incident occurred in the Tukhachevski Street, ITAR-TASS reports. After the blast, the rebels opened fire at the militiamen from automatic rifles. The militiamen fired back, and the rebels are reported to have been neutralized. There is no available information of the casualties. In the city of Argun, motorized OMON unit from Sakhalin was ambushed the same day. As a results, tree militiamen were wounded. A mobile group of the Argun Commandant’s Office arrived to the site to help the militiamen. The battle lasted for about half an hour and ended with no casualties reported for federal forces.