(10 Mar 1996) Russian/Nat
Although the Russian military has now regained control of Grozny after several days of fierce fighting, the Russian army has been left deeply demoralized by the latest rebel attacks.
The streets of the capital were quite early Sunday, but Russian soldiers at checkpoints were still nervous and expect another attack at any time.
They claim that they are only in control of the surrounding areas.
This is the square where the Presidential Palace once stood - now all that is left of it is in ruins.
An estimated 30-thousand people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the fighting.
Sporadic sniper fire was reported through the night Saturday.
Government officials say it will take several days to flush out the snipers and dispose of mines placed in many buildings in the city.
In the meantime, Russian forces patrol the streets in large numbers.
Following the four-day assault, Grozny is largely without water or electricity and bread supplies are scarce.
A food bazaar opened in downtown Grozny Sunday, but there was a small choice of
foodstuffs and prices have soared since the fighting began Wednesday.
For the Russian soldiers, this assignment is a daily battle with fear:
SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Alyosha, conscript soldier
"We live from day to day. You can't plan anything."
SUPERCAPTION: Alyosha, conscript soldier
President Boris Yeltsin launched the war in December, 1994 in an attempt to crush separatists defiance over the breakaway republic.
He has said that he will unveil a new peace plan soon.
But most of the Russian soldiers appear sick of the war.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"This war's crap. We don't understand if the city belongs to us or to them. I think it belongs to them."
SUPERCAPTION: Andrei, OMON soldier
And they are tired of all the lives lost in this war.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Alyosha
"Over the river the rebels are in charge. We lost virtually a whole battalion there. Their burnt bodies are still there waiting for us to get them out."
SUPERCAPTION: Alyosha
Russian Television reported Saturday that about 70 government troops had been killed and 200 wounded in four days of fighting - lower than some previous estimates.
It also said earlier that 150 to 300 Chechens were dead.
As throughout the 15-month-old Chechen war, civilians were caught in the heat of the battles and many were among those killed.
But these soldiers remain on the cutting edge of the danger -- and they know it.
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