When did the First Chechen War start and end?
The First Chechen War began on the 11th of December 1994 when Russian forces entered Chechnya. The conflict officially ended with the signing of the Khasavyurt Accord on the 31st of August 1996.
Questions about First Chechen War
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who led the Chechen separatist forces during the First Chechen War?
Dzhokhar Dudayev declared full independence from Moscow in 1993 as the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basayev later led massive counter-offensives that reversed previous Russian gains.
How many civilians died during the First Chechen War?
Independent estimates place civilian deaths between 30,000 and 100,000 with some sources citing figures closer to 50,000. More than 200,000 Chechen civilians may have been injured during the fighting.
What happened at Samashki village on the 7th of April 1995?
Federal forces killed up to 300 civilians while seizing Samashki village on the 7th of April 1995 in what became known as the worst massacre of the war. House-by-house searches targeted residents hiding in basements where women elderly persons and children took shelter.
Why did Russia withdraw its troops from Chechnya in 1996?
Russian commander Konstantin Pulikovsky issued an ultimatum on the 19th of August demanding withdrawal within 48 hours or destruction after Chechen fighters infiltrated Grozny. Negotiations began immediately leading to the Khasavyurt Accord signed on the 31st of August 1996 which scheduled all federal forces to withdraw by the 31st of December 1996.