But with evidence mounting daily of bungling by the Russian high command and indiscriminate attacks on civilians Washington has had to change
But with evidence mounting daily of bungling by the Russian high command and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, Washington has had to change its tune.Earlier this week, it was announced that Warren Christopher, the Secretary of State, will meet the Russian Foreign Minister, Andrei Kozyrev, for two days of mid-month talks in Geneva that will be overshadowed by the Chechnya war. "You can see here in Grozny that the Russians are not so difficult to kill.". With his entire Russia policy in growing doubt, President Bill Clinton has written to President Boris Yeltsin appealing to him to change tactics to halt the "enormous civilian casualties" caused by Moscow's military campaign to crush the Chechen u prising. As far as can be judged, the letter Mr Clinton addressed to the Russian leader on Thursday and whose text has not been made public, does not budge from Washington's stated position that the invasion is an "internal" affair for Russia, justified by the need to maintain the country's territorial integrity. That argument indeed explained the virtual absence of administration reaction in the early stages of the attack on Grozny. The incinerated body of a crew man sprawled in a hatch by which he failed to escape."America was always afraid of the Russians, but you can see that was not necessary," said Selim, bundled up in a fur hat and lambskin jacket and carrying a sawn-off shotgun as well as a Kalashnikov. They immediately dived into destroyed buildings and took up ambush positions on either side of the wide thoroughfare, grenade launchers at the ready.Reporters who entered the presidential palace found it packed with Chechen soldiers and some civilians, including women sheltering in the basement. From the marble lobby of the Modern building, whose upper stories have been scorched by shell fire, the view was of devastation.
Burnt-out, shrapnel-riddled cars and trucks littered Freedom Square, itself pitted by shell holes. Light snow fell through air dimmed by smoke from countless fires burning across the city.To the south, across the river, lay the remains of five Russian tanks, marking high water of the advance into Grozny. Grozny - Chechen fighters clung to the centre of Grozny yesterday despite fierce Russian artillery and mortar fire. Hundreds of fighters with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket grenade launchers swarmed through the side streets leading to the central F reedomSquare in front of the presidential palace. Shells and mortar bombs hit the square at the rate of four or five a minute at times,but Chechens moved across the open ground and into the palace with little more than a shrug of their shoulders at the risk. The Russians seemed to be pouring shells into the city centre to suppress troop movements but with little apparent effect. The only time Chechen fighters in the area showed the slightest concern was when a tank roared up the central Prospect Avrtukhanovastreet from the direction of the palace. Having committed itself to the assault on Grozny, Moscow has little option but to continue until it has scored some success..As the Russian army and public opinion appear not to be up to a sustained campaign, isolating Chechnya, securing the capital and then conducting a prolonged war against guerrillas remains the only option ..
The latest reports are consistent with Russian announcements that their forces in the area were being stiffened with specialist troops after the debacle suffered by low-grade mechanised troops.The Russians are unlikely to attempt to use the airborne troops in anything as complex as a parachute assault. Elements of both divisions have been in the area and the reports suggest they are being concentrated for an attack. One diplomatic source said: "They were already over the top before Chechnya and if they don't meet the deadline they will be in violation. That would be serious."The ineptitude of the Russian effort in Chechnya is particularly embarrassing for General Grachev because in April 1993 he said that Russia should strengthen the North Caucasus Military district - the command responsible for the Chechnya operation , "first of all", because of its proximity to likely trouble spots including Georgia and Nagorny Karabakh.Reports from the region said large numbers of Russian paratroops had been sighted although yesterday it was unclear whether these were from the 76th Pskov Airborne Division already based in the area or extra troops from outside - possibly 106th Airborne Division, based in Tula, near Moscow. Of 167 emergency landings in the past 18 months, half were caused by Lucas components, it was claimed.A report said to have gone to the Pentagon talked of chipped gears, damaged bearings and metal shavings discovered in the drives. Management at Western and AUL have been restructured, and the US forces are again taking the components.The US Navy was said to have told the Pentagon that Lucas should be barred from all new military business.