Chechen War: Another Russian Humiliation

摘要

General Eduard Vorobyov, first deputy commander of Russia's ground forces, arrived on the outskirts of Grozny to assess the stalled Russian invasion of Chechnya. The scene was unsettling. Unarmed civilians had blocked his convoys, several of his vehicles had been destroyed by sniper fire, and the morale of his troops was dangerously low. He quickly assessed the situation and reported to Moscow, 'Whoever ordered this operation should be investigated for criminal irresponsibility.' Thus began the Chechen War in December 1994, sparked by an out-of-control, breakaway republic and fueled by the Kremlin's need to maintain integrity of the Russian Federation and to control strategic resources. Many questions remain regarding the Chechen War for today's strategic thinker. What decisions brought Vorobyov and his Russian ground forces to Grozny. Who made those decisions and why. What options were available. What domestic, international, economic, and historical factors played a part in those decisions. How did Chechnya play in the objectives and national interests of Russia.