Russia rejects any talk of independence but takes no action against Dudayev and allows him to run Chechnya. Separatists abandon capital Grozny, reduced to ruins by artillery and rocket attacks over a month of fighting. Over 100 people die. Peace talks open, Russia orders a halt to military operations, but the conflict goes on. Fighters seize hostages in neighbouring Dagestan, then move to the village of Pervomaiskoye just outside Chechnya.
Most rebels escape, but many are killed.
It holds until the presidential poll which Yeltsin wins some six weeks later. Yeltsin visits Russian troops in Grozny. Rebels seize Grozny. Yeltsin gives national security adviser Alexander Lebed powers to resolve the crisis. Lebed signs a truce on August 31 providing for a Russian pullout and deferring the issue of Chechen sovereignty for five years.