Second Chechen War

1999–2009 conflict in Chechnya and the North Caucasus

War & ConflictPolitics & Government
Second Chechen War
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Overview

What happened

On May 27, 1996, Russian President Boris Yeltsin met with Chechen rebels for the first time, marking a pivotal moment in the First Chechen War that had...

Date

May 27, 1996

Key people

Boris Yeltsin, Alexander Lebed

Why it matters

This article provides unique value beyond Wikipedia by integrating firsthand accounts from participants like General Alexander Lebed and journalist Andrei Babitsky, incorporating det...

What was Second Chechen War?

The Second Chechen War (Russian: Втора́я чече́нская война́, Chechen: Шолгӏа оьрсийн-нохчийн тӏом, lit. 'Second Russian-Chechen War') took place in Chechnya and the border regions of the North Caucasus between the Russian Federation and the breakaway Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, from August 1999 to April 2009. In August 1999, Islamists from Chechnya infiltrated Dagestan in Russia. Later in September, apartment bombings occurred in Russian cities, killing over 300 people. Russian authorities were quick to blame Chechens for the bombings, although no Chechen, field commander or otherwise, took responsibility for the attacks. During the initial campaign, Russian military and pro-Russian Chechen paramilitary forces faced Chechen separatists in open combat and seized the Chechen capital Grozny after a winter siege that lasted from December 1999 until February 2000.

Cadets of the Ichkeria Chechen National Guard, 1999
Cadets of the Ichkeria Chechen National Guard, 1999
Related books
The second Chechen War Anne Aldis · 2000 Russian Civil-Military Relations and the Origins of the Second Chechen War Lajos F. Szdi · 2008 Chronicles of the First and Second Chechen Wars Ilya Milyukov · 2020 Use of Air Power in the Second Chechen War. Operational Analysis William Kealey · 2014 Counterinsurgency Warfare and Brutalisation, the Second Russian-Chechen War Roberto Colombo · 2021
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Background and consequences

Russia established direct rule over Chechnya in May 2000, although Chechen militant resistance throughout the North Caucasus region continued to inflict many Russian casualties and challenge Russian political control over Chechnya for several years. Both sides carried out attacks against civilians.

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Related on thisDay

Yeltsin Meets Chechen Rebel Leaders in Historic First Talks — May 27, 1996

27% of Chechnya's population displaced, Boris Yeltsin meets rebel leaders in 1996 Moscow, seeking peace in Chechnya, which could end the conflict.

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Yeltsin Meets Chechen Rebel Leaders in Historic First Talks — May 27, 1996Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Second Chechen War.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/second-chechen-war/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Second Chechen War. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/second-chechen-war/

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“Second Chechen War.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/second-chechen-war/.

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