RUSSIAN-CHECHEN WAR, 19-20 JANUARY, 1995 (Chechnya, 1995)
On 19 January, 1995, the Russian army reached the Presidential Palace in the Chechen capital city of Grozny, an important objective in the war between Russia and Chechnya. But what appeared to be a victory was the beginning of a long struggle. The Islamic rebels, led by Shamil Basajev, held out until March. When they withdrew from the city, the casualties figures were immense: the Russians had 1150 dead, 2000 wounded and 300 missing. On the Chechen side, about 700 fighters lost their lives. An estimated 25,000 civilians died, including 3700 children. They were primarily Russians, since the population of Grozny was predominately Russian.
