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The breakup of the Soviet Union heralded the creation of many small countries, craving for freedom from Russian dominance. One of these nations is Chechnya, a small province in southern Russia. As rebel leaders declared independence in 1994, Russian forces invaded, causing a bloody war that ended when the Russian army withdrew in 1996. Most of Chechnya was in ruin, with thousands of civilians refugees or dead, but for several years it was a free republic, although one teaming with warlords and poverty. In 1999, Russian forces reinvaded, claiming to be cleansing Chechnya of terrorist, but in reality aiming to annex back the nation. Constant street fights rage across the cities in Chechnya, and the second war has so far cost 10,000 Russian soldiers and almost 200,000 Chechens, including rebels and civilians, their lives. The combat in Chechnya is especially brutal as Russian planes and heavy artillery bombard the major cities daily, and rockets constantly rain down n civilian refugees.
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