Russians Admit to Casuality List, Reports Sebastian Smith

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GROZNY - Russian tanks pulled back from the outskirts of Grozny yesterday as jet bombers tore across clear skies repeatedly hitting an oil refinery and Chechen positions.

The Russian troops retreated two miles from Grozny's eastern front in Khankala, after losing four tanks and an armoured car during a ferocious attempt to break Chechen lines on Wednesday, said Chechen commander Vaha Michkayev.

In a rare admission of fatalities, Mr Michkayev said seven of his men were killed and many wounded. But in Moscow, the ITAR-TASS news agency said that Russian troops pushed back an armoured assault by the Chechens in Khankala. Quoting a Russian government spokesman …