MOSCOW, January 31 (AVN) -- Fierce battles continue in Grozny, Sergey Yastrzhembsky, the presidential aide for media coverage of the Chechnya campaign, told a news briefing on Monday.
According to him, at the moment the federals are controlling over one third of the central Minutka Square, six blocks near the cannery, and the 3rd and 4th districts of Staraya Sunzha.
This became possible because 140 militants, mostly young men between 17 and 20, surrendered on Sunday, he stressed.
The guerrillas have made several breakthrough attempts in the Argun canyon, but were rebuffed. Airborne troops captured the dominant hills and main mountain roads in the Itum-Kale and Shatoi districts, the aide noted.