A wounded civilian is helped to safety after a Russian bombing attack which killed 18 people, including the American photographer Cynthia Elbaum..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.