RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: CHECHENS SHOOT DOWN RUSSIAN JET FIGHTER

(4 Feb 1995) Natural Sound

Chechen fighters have shot down a Russian jet during a bombing raid on a village near the capital Grozny.

Jubilant fighters celebrated the downing of the plane while Russia continued its bombing and artillery attacks both on Grozny and surrounding villages.

A Russian jet streaks across the sky on a bombing raid on villages outside Grozny.

It's an increasingly common sight here as the Russian military hurls ever more powerful weaponry at the breakaway republic in a bid to dislodge its stubborn defenders.

Armed only with machine guns, the Chechens are eager to strike back.

Astonishingly, today they managed to score a hit against one of these fast-moving jets.

The plane leaves a trail of smoke and then plunges into the ground on the horizon.

The fighters rush to celebrate the kill with the sharp-eyed gunner responsible for bringing the plane down, a young Chechen who identified himself as Ahmed.

But not everything went the Chechens' way today.

In the strategic western town of Bamut, Russian helicopters were reported to have opened fire on mourners at a funeral, killing three people.

The jubilation of the young Chechen fighters contrasts with the misery of these Chechen women who have seen their world destroyed around them since the Russian invasion began in December.

As the Russian barrage continues Chechen civilians try to escape the fighting as best they can, despite a shattered transport system.

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