Complex sentence: Fleeing the ambush, a group of armed fighters arrived in Katyr-Yurt early on February 4, and the villagers were not warned in advance of their arrival or told of safe exit routes by the Russian side.
Split into simpler sentences: Fleeing the ambush, a group of armed fighters arrived in Katyr-Yurt early on February 4. The residents were not warned in advance of their arrival or told of safe exit routes by the Russian side.