October 4, 1999
Web posted at: 9:16 a.m. EDT (1316 GMT)

MOSCOW (CNN) -- Russian troops were moving from village to village in northern Chechnya Monday, encountering Chechen rebels in sporadic battles as they pushed south toward the Terek River.

Chechen military officials said the Russians were within 16 kilometers (10 miles) of the river, traditionally the line that divides the breakaway territory in half. Russian officials said that their troops were 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Chechen capital, Grozny, which is south of the Terek River.

The Russian air force has conducted a bombing campaign on Chechnya for more than a week, responding to Chechen-led Islamic militant incursions into Dagestan. Troops marched into Chechnya late last week to establish a "security zone" around the rebel territory.

Russia says Chechnya is harboring the rebels in the territory's mountainous regions. The airstrikes, Russia says, are aimed at facilities used by the rebels. Chechnya says hundreds of civilians have been killed.

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Russia said two soldiers had died in scattered fighting and seven others were wounded as troops completed establishing the security zone. Chechen officials said the fighting was much more intense and that hundreds of Russians were killed.

Unlike during the 1994-1996 war, Russia this time has moved cautiously into Chechnya, securing the plains area of the Caucasus region that remained largely pro-Moscow after that disastrous attempt to squelch a rebellion.

Tens of thousands of people were killed in that conflict, which ended with Russia virtually locked out of control of the region.

Chechens, fearing a repeat of that war, have been fleeing the territory, most to the west into impoverished Ingushetia. Ingush officials say nearly 100,000 refugees have crossed into their territory and more are on the way.

"There is not enough food or water," the RIA news agency said, quoting Ingush officials. "Federal powers in Russia have said they will help but the process is going very slowly."

Russian Prime Minster Vladimir Putin said that President Boris Yeltsin had approved a plan to resettle refugees in parts of Chechnya under Russian control. A commission was being set up, Putin said, to oversee relief aid.

Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty contributed to this report.

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