(8 Aug 1996) Natural Sound
Russian military forces are trying to push their way into Grozny, the ravaged capital of Chechnya, and push back the rebel offensive in the third day of renewed fighting.
Planes and helicopters carried out air strikes against rebels, while Russian tanks and soldiers advanced slowly along mined roads leading into the city.
Russian army helicopters continue to fire on the burning Chechen capital of Grozny.
On the ground, rebels kept up their defiant struggle to recapture the city.
Overnight these rebels, filmed by APTV, captured a Russian APC to add to the other armaments they've picked up during skirmishes.
Just 200 metres from the headquarters of the Moscow-backed Chechen government in the city centre, the gunmen are still fighting for control of the capital in the biggest rebel offensive since a spring cease-fire.
Moscow's forces are trying to battle back against a rebel offensive that began this week.
The military command says up to 70 Russian servicemen have been killed and about 300 wounded in three days of fighting.
It estimates rebel casualties at more than 200 dead.
The Interfax news agency quotes rebel spokesmen as claiming several hundred Russian troops have been killed.
In neighbouring Ingushetia, a hospital in Slipovsk has been prepared for the flood of wounded, expected today from the city.
The Red Cross has also brought in extra medication.
Among the first to be treated was 8-year-old Magomed.
He was injured during a missile attack this morning (Thursday).
Despite being critically wounded in the stomach his relatives carried him out of the war torn city in their arms before finding a vehicle to take him to hospital.
Doctors spent several hours operating on him but it won't be clear until tomorrow whether Magomed will live or die.
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