CHECHNYA, RUSSIA – OCTOBER 20, 2000 When the Soviet Union collapsed, Chechnya attempted to declare independence from Moscow. This led to two bloody wars. The first took place between 1994 and 1996 and ended with the victory of Chechen separatists and the creation of the autonomous Republic of Chechnya.
In 1999, however, Russia attacked again under the pretext of suppressing radical Islam in an effort to reconnect Chechnya to Russia. The second war lasted until 2009, ended with a Russian victory, and was much bloodier.
The footage comes from the second of the wars and shows an attack by Chechen separatists on two Russian soldiers. They blow them up using an IED. The explosion killed both of them instantly.
