Funeral cortege for a victim of Russian bombing..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.