RUSSIA-CHECHNYA: Military Chiefs Resign, Fired as Assault Continues

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MOSCOW, Dec 22 1994 (IPS) - Russia’s military intervention in the breakaway republic of Chechnya Thursday took its toll in the top ranks of the armed forces as resignations and reshuffles forced Defence Minister Pavel Grachev to take charge of the operation.

Russian deputy defence minister Gen. Georgy Kondratyev and the deputy commander-in-chief of land forces Gen. Eduard Vorobyov handed in their resignations to Grachev, confirming earlier reports of dissent in the top brass.

The official Russian Itar-Tass news agency quoted sources in the military command in Mozdok — from where the Chechen operations are being directed — saying that Grachev had also dismissed “half a dozen top military commanders” and was now personally directing the intervention.

Gen. Alexei Mityukhin, commander of the North Caucasian military district, his first deputy Vladimir Chirindin and chief of staff Vladimir Potapov were among those mentioned as having been discharged. No ranks were given for Chirindin and Potapov.

Earlier reports Thursday had indicated that Gen. Vorobyov had quit after he refused to accept orders to step up the military offensive in Chechnya.

Russian fighter bombers have since Wednesday night begun pounding the Chechen capital of Grozny after President Boris Yeltsin called for intensification of the armed assault on the breakaway republic which declared its independence from Moscow in 1991.

The three-pronged offensive was launched on Dec. 11 after Chechen President Jokhar Dudayev refused to accept Moscow’s terms for talks which included renouncing claims of sovereignty.

Russia has also airlifted fresh batches of troops from crack divisions, adding to an estimated force of 24,500 troops already deployed on the ground as Moscow steps up its bid to bring the rebel republic within the fold of the Russian Federation comprising 67 regions and 22 autonomous republics, including Chechnya.

In another sign of mounting divisions, two influential members of the Russia’s Democratic Choice party led by reformist Yegor Gaidar who had stood by Yeltsin till the Chechen crisis, resigned.

Lev Ponomaraev and Gleb Yakunin, prominent figures in the democratic movement and members of parliament, have quit the party.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev had also resigned though he disagreed with the party’s protest against the military intervention in Chechnya.