General Kazantsev said he was confident his forces would complete their military operations in the breakaway republic within two months. One and a half to two months have been given to complete the final stage of the counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya. On the basis of the situation we intend to fulfil tasks in various districts. General Kazantsev said the situation in areas of Chechnya hit by the latest outbreak of fighting was now under control. The situation is now under control in Shali and Argun and near Mesker-Yurt.
All key installations are under control in Argun.
Not understating casualties' Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev meanwhile rejected allegations that Russia was deliberately understating its casualty figures in the conflict. He added that data on losses among federal troops in Chechnya were being published regularly. He accused them of using civilians as human shields in a desperate attempt to thwart the Russian offensive. But reports from Russia's main independent television station NTV have revealed the darker side facing Russian troops on combat duty in Chechnya. A TV crew, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Grozny, said even walking in the street was dangerous, with many streets and houses possibly still mined.