Paul Lowe - A Chechen soldier laughs after repelling a Russian attack on the outskirts of Grozny. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya in an attempt to quash the country’s independence movement. Early promises of a quick victory were soon silenced as the Chechens put up fierce resistance to the Russian assault and the death toll mounted. Up to 100,000 people – many of them civilians – are estimated to have been killed in the 20 month war that followed.