Editing Second Chechen War (section)

===Siege of Grozny===
{{Main|Battle of Grozny (1999–2000)}}
[[File:Russian Army soldiers in Khankala, Chechnya.jpg|thumb|Russian Army soldiers in [[Khankala]], Chechnya]]
The Russian [[Battle of Grozny (1999–2000)|assault on Grozny]] began in early December, accompanied by a struggle for neighbouring settlements. The battle ended when the Russian army seized the city on 2 February 2000. According to official Russian figures, at least 134 federal troops and an unknown number of pro-Russian militiamen died in Grozny. The separatist forces also suffered heavy losses, including losing several top commanders. Russian Defense Minister [[Igor Sergeyev]] said that 1,500 separatists were killed trying to leave Grozny. The separatists said they lost at least 500 fighters in the [[mine field]] at [[Alkhan-Kala]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/02/04/russia.chechnya.01/index.html |title=Russia may withdraw some troops from Chechnya |date=4 February 2000 |work=CNN |access-date=9 December 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209160644/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/02/04/russia.chechnya.01/index.html |archive-date=9 December 2004 }}</ref> The siege and fighting devastated the capital like no other European city since [[World War II]]. In 2003, the United Nations called Grozny the most destroyed city on Earth.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6414603.stm |title=Scars remain amid Chechen revival |work=BBC News |date=3 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731041611/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6414603.stm |archive-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> The Russians also suffered heavy losses as they advanced elsewhere, and from Chechen counterattacks and convoy ambushes. On 26 January 2000, the Russian government announced that 1,173 servicemen had been killed in Chechnya since October,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/618971.stm|title=Russia admits heavy casualties|date=26 January 2000|access-date=10 June 2006|work=BBC News|archive-date=10 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210074452/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/618971.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> more than double the 544 killed reported just 19 days earlier.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/592919.stm|title=Russian army battered in Grozny|date=6 January 2000|access-date=10 June 2006|work=BBC News|archive-date=14 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814031601/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/592919.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>