A woman stands dazed in the urban battleground of Grozny, Chechnya. By the second year of the war between Chechen separatists and the Russian army, Chechnya's capital had turned in a pile of rubble and the gas refinery, the heart of the economy, was in flames. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

Well hidden from his adversaries, a Chechen sniper fires on a Russian artillery position, Grozny. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

A Chechen sniper takes aim from a destroyed apartment at the Russian troops in the next building. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

A Chechen woman weeps over the loss of her home just after it has been destroyed by a barrage of Russian artillery fire. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

Citizens flee the Chechen capital, carrying a few possessions. During the second summer of the war between Chechen separatist and the Russian army, a large percentage of the remaining population fled Grozny. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

As the exodus of Chechens out of Grozny continues, a white flag tied to the barrel of a tank proclaims the truce between Russia and Chechnya. In the second summer of the war, a large percentage of the remaining population fled Grozny. Peaceful coxeistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

A Chechen envoy crosses no-man's land in Grozny during cease-fire negotiations with the Russians. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

A Chechen rebel watches for movement from the Russian army along the front line in Grozny. The sides faced-off in government buildings and apartment blocks across a narrow no-man's land in the heart of the city. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

As the exodus of Chechen citizens leaving Grozny continues, a white flag tied to the barrel of a tank proclaims the truce between the Chechen rebels and the Russian army. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

After two years of civil war, Chechnya's capital Grozny has turned to rubble, while the remaining population continues to fled the city. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

In the desolate streets of Grozny, children use the debris of battle for their games. These boys from an orphanage play on a destroyed Russian tank. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

An orphaned boy lingers in one of Grozny's battle-scarred streets. Peaceful coexistence within the Russian federation proved unattainable. After sustaining heavy losses at the hands of the highly motivated Chechen rebels, President Boris Yeltsin ordered his national security chief, Alexander Lebed, to extricate Russia from the civil war, which had already claimed over 30,000 casualties. In September 1996, a cease-fire was declared and the Russian army hastily departed amidst artillery and sniper fire.

Portraits,Honorable mention