Chechen soldiers wave their flag outside the Presidential palace in celebration of their defeat of the Russian army over New Year. .In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya in an attempt to quash the countryÕs 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 Ð many of them civilians Ð are estimated to have been killed in the 20 month war that followed.