Editing Second Chechen War (section)

===Air war===
{{Main|1999 Russian bombing of Chechnya}}
{{See also|List of Russian aircraft losses in the Second Chechen War}}
In late August and early September 1999, Russia mounted a massive [[Aerial warfare|aerial campaign]] over Chechnya, with the stated aim of wiping out militants who invaded Dagestan earlier in the same month. On 26 August 1999, Russia acknowledged bombing raids in Chechnya.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9908/26/russia.chechnya/ |title=Russia acknowledges bombing raids in Chechnya |website=[[CNN]] |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000919000313/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9908/26/russia.chechnya/ |archive-date=19 September 2000 }}, CNN, 26 August 1999</ref> The Russian air strikes were reported to have forced at least 100,000 Chechens to flee their homes to safety; the neighbouring region of Ingushetia was reported to have appealed for United Nations aid to deal with tens of thousands of refugees.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0927/russia.html Russia launches more air strikes against Chechnya] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002221916/http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0927/russia.html |date=2 October 2012 }}, RTÉ news, 27 September 1999</ref> On 2 October 1999, Russia's [[Ministry of Extraordinary Situations (Russian Federation)|Ministry of Emergency Situations]] reported that 78,000 people had fled the air strikes in Chechnya; most of them went to [[Ingushetia]], where they arrived at a rate of 5,000 to 6,000 a day.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

As of 22 September 1999, Deputy [[Minister of Internal Affairs (Russia)|Interior Minister]] Igor Zubov said that Russian troops had surrounded Chechnya and were prepared to retake the region, but the military planners were advising against a ground invasion because of the likelihood of heavy Russian casualties.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}