[3] The day before, the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces announced the start of an operation to take the city, which had been under the control of Chechen militants since December 14.

The most intense fighting took place near the railway station and the local military headquarters, where 150 Russian troops were surrounded by 600 CRI fighters.

By December 23, the CRI units retreated on the orders of Aslan Maskhadov and the Russian Armed Forces established control over the city.

Bukhari Muskhanov, 43, who was hiding with his family in a basement:[5]Russian artillery fired from a hill near the TV tower, shelling every street.

Within two days my children were sick and coughing, but every time we tried to leave the city the shooting became more intense.Russian Interior Minister Anatoly Kulikov called the actions of the CRI Armed Forces genocide and said they were ready to sacrifice the last Chechen.