DATE=9/30/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-254501
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says Russian
ground troops are operating inside Chechnya, three
years after Moscow withdrew forces from the region in
defeat. V-O-A Moscow correspondent Peter Heinlein
reports Chechen officials are threatening to strike
back if Russia mounts a full-scale invasion.
TEXT: Prime Minister Putin says Russian forces have
made repeated incursions onto Chechen soil, and have
captured some territory. Speaking in Russia's second
city, St. Petersburg, Mr. Putin said "combat
operations are already underway".
/// PUTIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says, "I can say troops have been going in, and
not just once. Two weeks ago they were capturing
mountaintops and other strategic points"
/// OPT /// It was not immediately clear whether
Mr. Putin's comments mean the long-expected ground
invasion of Chechnya is under way. But he made clear
troops would not hesitate to cross into the breakaway
republic. /// END OPT ///
Mr. Putin earlier confirmed that an invasion is being
considered, but said every precaution would be taken
to avoid the heavy losses Russian troops suffered
during the Chechen war from 1994 to 1996.
In that campaign, inexperienced Russian conscripts
were sent into combat and were mowed down by the
battle-hardened Chechen fighters. Tens of thousands
of Russian soldiers are believed to have died in that
conflict.
With that experience in mind, Russia has mounted a
NATO-style air campaign over Chechnya for the past few
weeks, including several days of strikes in and around
the regional capital, Grozny. Officials say the aim
is to wipe out Chechen militants who invaded
neighboring Dagestan last month.
The air strikes are reported to have killed hundreds
of civilians and forced at least 100-thousand Chechens
to flee their homes.
Chechnya's Defense Minister, Magomedov Khambiyev,
(Thursday) was quoted as saying the region would
answer any ground invasion with its own attacks on
Russian soil. In remarks reported by Russia's Itar-
Tass news agency, Mr. Khambiyev said 50-thousand well-
armed and well-trained Chechen fighters are ready to
take up arms. (Signed)
NEB/PFH/JWH/KL
30-Sep-1999 09:06 AM EDT (30-Sep-1999 1306 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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