GENE RANDALL, CNN ANCHOR: First the battle for the Chechen capital of Grozny. Russian commanders say their troops are fighting street to street for control of the city's center. Meanwhile, Russian jets and helicopter gunships continue to pound the capital from the air. Russia's deputy commander in Chechnya said Wednesday he expects the war in the breakaway republic to be over by the end of February, a month ahead of Russia's presidential elections. But that view is not universal CNN's Steve Harrigan reports from Moscow.</s>STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For the first time since the war began four months ago, the two sides are fighting at close range in the very center of the Chechen capital, Grozny. Russian generals are using the terms "breakthrough" and "decisive phase" to describe the ground assault on the city. But some analysts question whether taking Grozny would signal an end to the war.</s>ANDREI PIONKOWSKI, POLITICAL ANALYST: Every day on TV screens some general appears and says: "We'll go to the end. We'll go to the victory. We'll never allow the traitors to stop us." I always want to ask them a very simple question: What is your definition of end? What is your definition of victory? Nobody can give this answer.</s>HARRIGAN: In a surprise rebel offensive last week, Chechen fighters temporarily retook parts of three cities the Russians claimed to control.</s>PAVEL FELGENHAUER, MILITARY ANALYST: In fighting an anti- guerrilla war, just simply taking cities and occupying territory while the enemy troops evade you and continue to be battle-capable -- that doesn't bring you a victory. It never does.</s>HARRIGAN: From the West, more calls for a cease-fire, this time from the Council of Europe. The delegation is visiting the same sights diplomats from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe visited last month. The OSCE's call for a cease-fire was also ignored. Steve Harrigan, CNN, Moscow.
Russian Commanders Say Troops Are Fighting Street to Street for Control of Grozny