As the USSR was dissolving in the autumn of 1991, some Chechen politicians declared the independence of Chechnya; Chechnya did not sign the 1992 Federation Treaty with Russia. There followed a period of internal tension and conflict.
In 1993, Chechnya declared full independence from Moscow in 1993 as the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (now a government in exile).
In December 1994, Russian forces invaded and attacked Grozny; two years of harsh fighting saw heavy casualties and destruction on both sides, until a ceasefire was negotiated in August 1996.
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