MOZDOK, December 23 (AVN) - Federal troops commanders in Chechnya on Thursday said they were not planning to leave the combat area in the near future.
Viktor Kazantsev, commander of the unified federal group, Gennady Troshev, in charge of the eastern federal group, and Vladimir Shamanov, his western counterpart, refuted media reports claming they would soon head for Moscow to receive Gold Stars of the Hero of Russia.
There are several reasons behind their decision to stay in Chechnya, a source in the unified federal headquarters told the Military News Agency. First, they are unwilling to leave the combat area in a decisive moment of the operation. Second, it is much more honourable to receive the award after their mission is fully accomplished, the source said.
The commanders have been conferred the title of the Hero of Russia for war services, courage and heroism displayed in the course of Chechnya's liberation from guerrillas.