The assault on Grozny is continuing
In Chechnya, 16 Russian soldiers have been killed in a surprise counter-attack by Chechen rebels. A further 25 Russians were wounded in fighting around the towns of Argun and Shali.
Russia resumed its full-scale assault against the Chechen capital, Grozny today, following a three-day break when its operations were suspended. Moscow also accused the Chechen guerrillas of using the lull to build up its military reserves. The guerrillas had ambushed a convoy near Chechnya's second city, Gudermes, and took control of another town for several hours.
Earlier the Russian military command said that 26 soldiers were killed and 30 were wounded in one day of fighting. That is the largest toll reported for a 24-hour period in the three-month campaign.
