Video CHECHNYA: KOMSOMOLSKOYE: RENEWED FIGHTING

(20 Mar 2000) Russian/Nat


There was fighting between Russian army units and Chechen rebels in the village of Komsomolskoye in southern Chechnya on Monday - one day after a top Russian general said Russia had regained control of the village.


The renewed fighting draws into question Sunday's claim by General Gennady Troshev that Russia had recaptured Komsomolskoye, with only a few isolated rebels still in the area.


Komsomolskoye has been under attack by federal forces for about two weeks, with 42 rebels reported killed on Sunday alone.


One day after Russia said the battle for Komsomolskoye was won - federal tanks and heavy artillery continued to bombard the village.


It appears that at least a few rebels are still in the village and have been putting up fierce resistance.


But the Russian units are methodically razing the remaining pockets of rebel resistance to the ground.


A leading Russian general, Gennady Troshev, had claimed that Russia was back in control of Komsomolskoye on Sunday.


One of the Russian fighters gave his account of why the Russian onslaught is still going on.


SOUNDBITE: (Russian)

"You see, when they (Chechens) were building these houses they prepared the cellars in such a way that it could withstand a heavy bombing. As a result, they fortifications here are very strong."

SUPER CAPTION: Oleg (first name only) Russian officer


Moscow claims that 42 rebels were killed here during Sunday's intense fighting.


Their bodies still lay unburied for all to see on Monday.


But mindful of allegations of Russian warcrimes in Chechnya, federal soldiers did take pains to show the world that captured rebels will be treated fairly.


UPSOUND: (Russian)

Soldier: "Everything is going to be all right for you, you will live."

Rebel: "I could speak Russian quite well."

Interrogating Russian officer: "How many of you had entered the village?"

Rebel: "I don't know how many, there was a lot of us"

Interrogating Russian Officer: "Where did you come from?"

Rebel: "From Shatoi" (mountain rebel base captured by the Russians two weeks ago)

Interrogating Russian officer: "What were your orders here?"

Rebel: "I don't know that, we were not told where we are going, all they said was that we are going down from the mountains to the plains."

SUPER CAPTION: Russian General Interrogating Captured Chechen Rebel


However, the Russian troops efforts at public relations were unconvincing, with the bodies of so many of the war dead lying out in the open.


Komsomolskoye fell to the rebels after independence fighters got past Russian lines and captured the village some weeks ago.


Russia's proudest victory in its fight to retake the village came on Monday when one of its pilots taken hostage several months ago, was reportedly freed there.


Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Zhukov was captured last October when his jet went down in Chechnya during a mission.


According to Russian news reports, Zhukov was freed when rebels there tried to break out of a Russian encirclement.


He was said to be in good physical condition.


Less than thirty kilometres to the north of Komsomolskoye lies Khankala airport where Acting President Vladimir Putin flew on Monday aboard an Su-27 fighter jet.


Putin said he came to attend a ceremony marking the withdrawal of a paratrooper unit from Chechnya.


The object of the exercise was to convince Russian voters that the war is all but over, with just days to go until Russian presidential elections.


But there is still no conclusive proof that that is the case.




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