JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: In the breakaway Russian republic Chechnya, the tables appear to be turning. An offensive by Islamic rebels has forced Moscow to admit it has suffered some serious losses. The assaults are also calling into question Russia's presumed dominance in the conflict. CNN's Steve Harrigan reports.</s>STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russian soldiers on the run inside the city of Grozny. Without helmets or body armor, they stay close to the walls or sprint across the open road. "They got a tank," this Russian says, then draws his finger across his throat. Cannon fire has gotten the Russians to the gates of Grozny, but no further. Now, after four months of retreating, the Chechens have gone on the offensive, temporarily retaking parts of three key cities the Russians claimed to control.</s>ALEXANDER ISKANDARIAN, POLITICAL ANALYST (through translator): In this kind of war, it is not possible to take or control anything. The Chechens can be forced out of Grozny by bombing and then come back in two weeks if they want to.</s>HARRIGAN: The fight goes from building to building. (on camera): It's not the army, but the Interior Ministry who's now doing the bulk of the close fighting. And it's they who are suffering the heaviest losses. (voice-over): Twenty-six Russian soldiers were killed Monday, according to Russian commanders. That's 10 times higher than previously admitted daily losses, and it could be just the beginning.</s>ISKANDARIAN (through translator): This war cannot be solved by military means. If that's the approach that's taken, this type of war can go on for decades.</s>HARRIGAN: The hard-line military approach is not likely to change before presidential elections in March since polls still show strong public support for the war. Steve Harrigan, CNN, Mozdok, Russia.
Russian Army Suffers Serious Losses After Chechen Offensive