A corpse lies in the snow in Minutka Square in Grozny. The severity of the Russian bombardment made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

The tracks of a body hastily dragged back indoors after an explosion. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

Clerics prepare a body for burial and passage to heaven. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

Women and children in flight on the road from Samashki after a massacre. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

Rebels were hung from telephones wires by the Russian infantry. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

Anya fought against the Russians until the war ended in August 1996. Her leg was badly wounded and she now cannot walk without assistance. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

Mental patients that survived intensive bombings in Grozny. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

Russian soldiers prepare to patrol the northern border area in search of Chechen rebels. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

Staring from a window, Zelina grieves the loss of her child in the Chechen conflict. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

Train carriages serve as refugee camps. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Chechnya proclaimed itself independent of Russia. In December 1994 Russian troops entered Chechnya to quash the independence movement. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people, many of them civilians, died in the ensuing 20-month war. Food and water supplies stopped within days of the Russian attack. Men and women searched for sustenance among the exploding shells, while the severity of the bombardment sometimes made it dangerous to venture out to retrieve the dead. Under Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a formal peace treaty was signed in July 1997, though the issue of independence wasn't settled. In 1999, under the new prime minister Vladimir Putin, Russian forces re-deployed in Chechnya. Open conflict, as well as suicide bombings in Chechnya and in Moscow, continued into 2003.

General News,3rd prize