NAZRAN, Russia — Rebel fighters have again ambushed and trapped a Russian military convoy in the foothills of Chechnya's mountains, with officials saying Monday at least 15 soldiers were killed in the attack.
Between 50 and 60 rebels attacked the convoy Sunday in a gorge near the southern village of Serzhen-Yurt, said Sergei Yastrzhembsky, Russia's top spokesman on Chechnya. He said eight rebels were killed and two taken prisoner.
The rebels have ambushed Russian units repeatedly in recent weeks, inflicting heavy casualties. Their ability to penetrate Russian lines undermines repeated claims from Moscow that the rebels are on the verge of defeat.
Rebel fighters in the neighboring region of Ingushetia told The Associated Press on Monday that nine of 23 vehicles in the column were damaged after 40 minutes of fighting.
Both Russian and rebel reports said the attackers were driven back when federal helicopters rocketed the area. According to Yastrzhembsky, Russian troops surrounded the region of the ambush and were searching for the attackers.
The gorge, located 20 miles southeast of the capital, Grozny, is on the edge of Chechnya's southern mountains and has been the site of repeated rebel ambushes, though Russia claims to control the area. -->
Also Monday, the ITAR-Tass news agency said rebels hit a Russian border service helicopter with machine gun fire over Chechnya's Argun Gorge on Sunday. It said none of the crew was injured and it managed to get back to base.