Chechnya - Russians Advance Near Dagestan Border

(16 Jan 1995) Russian troops captured more ground over the weekend. Interior ministry troops advanced 60 KM from Gudermes to Kizlyar, taking one village after another. Although the troops did not take part in the siege of Grozny, they looked tired and war weary; reporters said many find it difficult to comprehend the purpose of the campaign. A column of 30 Russian tanks and APC's was seen at the village of Starogladkovskaya, heading closer to the Chechen-Dagestan border. Locals resent the Russian presence in the area. Residents in Kurdovkovskaya village said they are ready to fight Russians in Grozny, but doubted they would resist the Russiand in their home village. "It's a plain Steppes area, the army is much stronger here", a Chechen said. But local residents have threatened a guerilla war if Russian troops move in. SHOWS: CHECHNYA 16/1 ROAD BETWEEN SERNOVODSK AND SAMASHKI, CHECHNYA ws deserted road and petrol station; helicopters overhead bombing; onlookers helicopters ls buildings bombed and smoke rising; people walking through fields; ls field truck carrying rebels; ws tanks firing IN OR NEAR STAROGLADKOVSKAYA VILLAGE ws chechen village, truck drives through russian apc with russian troops houses and geese in field armour and russian tank crews car past line of armour cu russian tank crewman sot "we'll not be out soon, it's for a year at least" helicopter along helicopters overhead helicopter along above road and over field cu helicopter past screen of trees russian armoured convoy along back shot armour convoy man along road woman washing clothes in basin cu chechen man sot in russian "we've been in the war areas, they have plenty of fighters there, and if they run short, then we will go and fight" another chechen man sot in russian "we were in argun, in gudermes, they are prepared to fight, and we go and join them if needed" 3.55 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...