During the initial campaign, Russian military and pro-Russian Chechen paramilitary forces faced Chechen separatists in open combat, and seized the Chechen capital Grozny after a winter siege that lasted from late 1999 until February 2000.
Durante a campaña inicial, militares e forzas paramilitares chechenas prorrusas enfrontáronse aos separatistas chechenos en combate aberto, e apoderáronse da capital chechena, Grozni, despois dun asedio de inverno que durou desde finais de 1999 até febreiro de 2000.