During the war in Chechnya, Chaikova was known for her exposés of Russian military atrocities and close contacts with the Chechen resistance. She was known for her hard-hitting coverage of the First Chechen War and issues such as the use of special "filtration camps" by Russian authorities to control the population. Shortly before her death, Chaikova managed to film the devastation and civilian victims in the wake of the Russian raid on the village of Samashki.