6 August 1996, from that historic day when the armed forces of the CRI, having carried out a lightning military operation “Jihad”, literally in a matter of hours, liberated the Chechen capital, the city of Grozny.
Chechen troops also entered Gudermes and Argun, as well as other large populated areas of the CRI.
The previous day, before the offensive of the Chechen fighters, Russian generals made statements about the complete defeat of the Chechen fighters, categorically denying their ability to conduct any large-scale military operations.
However, the Chechen military command was able to organize the necessary combat force to carry out a large-scale offensive against the positions of the Russian occupiers. The presence of numerous military checkpoints around Grozny did not save the Russian invaders.
Developed according to all the rules of military art, Operation Jihad caught the Russian occupiers by surprise, which resulted in panic and fear gripping the enemy.
The number of combat units of the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria that entered the Chechen capital was only 850 fighters. The Chechen military units were led by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Aslan Maskhadov.
The general military-political leadership of the actions of the Chechen armed forces was carried out by the second President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev.
There were up to 20,00 occupiers from the Russian military garrison in Grozny. In addition, the Russian side had superiority in armoured vehicles and artillery, as well as absolute dominance in the air. General Pulikovsky exercised overall command of the occupation forces.
As a result of the sudden and exceptionally competent actions of the Chechen command, the thousands-strong Russian occupation group in Grozny was effectively surrounded.
As a result of the fighting in Grozny from 6-22 August, according to official Russian data alone, 494 soldiers were killed, 1,407 were wounded, and 182 military personnel and police officers went missing.
Disabled: 18 tanks, 61 infantry fighting vehicles, 8 armored personnel carriers, 23 vehicles, 3 helicopters.
According to the Chechen side, the losses of the Russian occupiers were several times greater.
This circumstance forced the Kremlin to urgently send the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, General A. Lebed, to Ichkeria to initiate peace negotiations to end the war.
On 31 August 1996, a document was signed in Khasavyurt, according to which Russia and the CRI committed to cease military action and begin peaceful, political negotiations.
The main point of the Khasavyurt Agreements was Russia’s commitment to build its relations with the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria under generally recognized norms of international law.
By decree of the President of the CRI A. Maskhadov, elected on 27 January 1997, in general free and democratic elections, 6 August was declared a national holiday of the Chechen people – Victory Day, with which we congratulate all freedom-loving Chechens.
