KHANKALA, February 28 (AVN) - Federal forces continue the operation aimed at capturing the northern entrance to Chechnya's Argun gorge, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters said on Monday.
The villages of Duba-Yurt, Chishki and Dachu-Borzoi are already blocked from several directions, the spokesman told the Military News Agency.
Attack units are holding under fire rebel communications from the entrance, also known as the Wolf-gates, to the village of Shatoi, the main base of the rebel defence. According to intelligence data, minor separatist groups are already leaving main positions and retreating further to the mountains.
Militants have set up reserve camps near the villages of Bolshye Varandy and Malye Valandy where they are hoping to set up a new line of defence.