JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: To Chechnya now, where a major new Russian offensive is under way against Grozny, the capital of the breakaway republic. Moscow's drive to capture the city from Chechen rebels has been stalled since the first of the New Year. Julian Manyon reports.</s>JULIAN MANYON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Savage fighting is taking place in Grozny with Russian troops renewing their drive toward the city center from two directions. Battling in from the suburbs, the Russian target is a key bridge linking the two halves of the Chechen capital. The aim seems to be to cut the rebel-held area in two. The Russians claim to be approaching the bridge and to have control of part of central Grozny. The latest pictures smuggled out of Grozny show the rebels in control of the central zone, but the Chechens today acknowledged that there is now heavy fighting in the area. In spite of massive Russian firepower, the rebels remain confident and they appear to believe that their best strategy is to try to cause heavy Russian casualties with ambushes and sniper attacks. Russian television pictures show civilians emerging from the ruins: Mainly the old and infirm, they have been unable to flee the fighting. And with no light, heating or proper food supplies, their struggle for survival is not yet over. Concern about the fate of ordinary Chechens is growing, with a group of Russian soldiers' mothers accusing their own government of violating the rules of war. As refugees continue to live in poor conditions, the mothers say that the Russian army is carrying out the destruction and expulsion of Chechnya's civilian population. But the new acting president, Vladimir Putin, shows no sign of changing course. In a speech to the new Russian parliament, Putin did not even mention Chechnya. (on camera): The Russian army says that it's made a breakthrough in Grozny and claims that it will control the Chechen capital within days. But even if that happens, it will not end the fighting, for the rebels say that they will simply retire to the mountains and continue the war. Julian Manyon, ITN, Moscow.
Russians Launch New Offensive on Grozny