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First Chechen War

War between Russia and Chechen separatists after the Soviet collapse, centered on Chechnya and Grozny.

Timeline
1994-1996
Duration
3 years
Region
Caucasus
Record
Static archive

Historical overview

Overview adapted from a Wikipedia summary and stored locally on May 11, 2026.

The First Chechen War, also referred to as the First Russo-Chechen War, was a conflict between the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the Russian Federation from 1994 to 1996. The conflict ended in a peace treaty that saw Russian forces withdraw from the territory only for them to invade again three years later sparking the Second Chechen War of 1999–2009.

Theater countries

Russia

Actors

RussiaChechen separatists

Tags

separatismpost-sovieturban-war

Border context

1990-1999historical border era

Post-Cold War state breakup

The Soviet Union and Yugoslavia collapse, producing new borders, new states and violent secession wars.

The Balkans and Caucasus become major border-change theaters. The Gulf War restores Kuwait's sovereignty after Iraqi occupation.

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