Seven Russian Soldiers Killed Over July 16-17

Seven Russian soldiers were killed and five wounded in Chechnya during a 24-hour period ending on July 17, an unnamed official of the republic’s pro-Moscow administration told the Associated Press. Two of the deaths took place in a firefight with rebel guerrillas in the southern Nozhai-Yurt district. Another two of the federal servicemen died when they detonated a land mine in Grozny.

During the same period, said the anonymous official, federal troops detained at least 150 Chechens in “zachistki” security sweeps.