CHECHNYA: RUSSIA/CHECHNYA CONFLICT: CIVILIANS

(4 Dec 1999) Russian/Nat

As Russian troops close in on the Chechen capital Grozny, life for Chechens in the Russian controlled areas is grim.

With supply routes cut off, the villagers have little food and the influx of refugees has made the situation even worse.

This town in Western Chechnya is controlled by the Russians but there are few benefits.

A handful of market stalls sell what little available food there is - even the Russian soldiers are tempted by the smell of cooking meat.

But the village is struggling to cope with the refugees who have arrived here from central Chechnya and Grozny.

Although some aid is being supplied by the Russian government - it isn't nearly enough.

With Grozny being heavily shelled, more refugees are expected.

Russian regional commander General Viktor Kazantsev said the military planned to open a route out of Grozny on Monday so that civilians could leave.

He said the refugees would be housed in tent camps set up in the Russian-controlled north of Chechnya.

The attitude of most Chechens here is one of resentment and fear.

For many, it's the second time in five years the Russians have moved in.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"It's not true that they (the Russian forces) came here to establish the "Free Chechnya" - I call it a clear-cut occupation. Why was Russia suffering for 200 years under the Mongols to obtain the freedom at last? Why didn't Russia submit to Germany? For us today the Russian soldiers are just like the German Nazis - it's all the same for us. "
SUPER CAPTION: Fatima, resident of Assinovskaya

When this old woman was asked how she was- she replied I have nothing , I can't win.

For the refugees who have recently arrived, the future looks bleak.

They fled the fighting only to find it is not much safer here.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We are so scared - there is shooting and bombing around here every night. The kids are sick and so am I. There is so many refugees around here - we can't even go to Sleptsovskaya (village in Ingushetia on the border with Chechnya), can't even go there to buy the groceries.
SUPER CAPTION: Malkha, Refugee

But despite the difficult conditions, the Chechens are not about to give up.

Russian forces on Saturday claimed to have blockaded the Chechen city of Argun, but
they ran into fierce resistance from the militants who control the key eastern gateway to the capital Grozny.

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