Timeframe
Russian Soldiers invaded Chechnya in December 1994 after Chechen Separatists claimed
independence. Russia feared that an independent Chechnya would begin the dissolution of the Russian Federation. The Chechens had never accepted Russian rule and regarded independence as their natural right. During the conflict Russian soldiers fought against Chechen separatist in the capital city of Grozny as well as the lowland areas and mountains of Chechnya.
During the war, Russian Soldiers committed many human rights violations with the most serious being the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians. By the war's end in August 1996, it was estimated that as many as 30,000-100,000 people may have died during the conflict.