Battle of Dolinskoye

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Dolinskoye


caption=
partof=First Chechen War
place=Dolinskoye, Chechnya
date=December 12 1994 - ?
result=Chechen tactical victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=At least 21 killed (initial attack), reportedly 200 total
casualties2=Unknown
campaign=

The Battle of Dolinskoye (Dolinskoe, Dolinsky), which took place 25 kilometers northwest of the Chechen capital of Grozny, was the first major ground engagement of the First Chechen War.

Battle

The battle began on December 12, 1994, when six officers (including two colonels) and 13 enlisted men of the Russian Airborne Troops died in a surprise 9K51 Grad multiple rocket launcher attack on an advancing column of armored vehicles of the 106th Airborne Division and 56th Airborne Brigade. [ [http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/people/tsypkinConf/Felgenhauer%2095_.doc Felgenhauer] Navy.mil] The Russian side immediately retaliated with a helicopter gunship and ground attack aircraft airstrikes on the Chechen positions. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/chechnya/Story/0,,201613,00.html Chechnya] "The Guardian"]

Aftermath

By December 22, 1994, Dolinskoye continued to hold out against Russian fire. [ [http://www.knox.army.mil/armormag/ma95/2chechnya95.pdf Chechnya] Knox Army.mil] According to the Chechen commander Hussein Ikshanov, in 1995 Russians admitted losing up to 200 men in the battle. [ [http://smallwarsjournal.com/documents/iskhanovinterview.pdf Iskhanov interview] "Small Wars Journal"]

References

External links

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/chechnya/Story/0,,201613,00.html Scrambling for cover as gunfire fills the sky] , "The Guardian", December 13, 1994