RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: RUSSIAN PRISONERS

(30 Nov 1994) Russian/Nat

Russia's President Boris Yeltsin isn't backing down over his threat to intervene in the breakaway republic of Chechnya - despite appeals from prisoners being held in the capital Grozny.

APTV has exclusive pictures of the prisoners, who claim to have been sent from Moscow on an undercover mission.

These terrified faces are Russian prisoners-of-war.

They were captured during the opposition attack on Grozny four days ago and they are being kept in a basement behind the Presidential Palace. If Boris Yeltsin sends his troops into the conflict these men know what will happen to them.

They refused to give their names but told APTV that they are not mercenaries but were sent by Moscow on a special mission.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian - ) We were sent by the counter-intelligence service of the Defence Ministry. We were given the task - prepare your equipment, get to Gorzny as soon as possible and take the Palace.
SUPER CAPTION: Russian POW

The smoke from yesterday's air attack could still be seen this morning as government forces made their own preparations to repel any further attacks.

Extra armoured personnel carriers were brought in to surround the Palace and ammunition was given out to those guarding the President.

Crowds of men came to the Presidential palace to sign up as volunteers while others made their way out of the capital by whatever means possible, taking whatever they could with them.

Back in the centre of town, a clean-up operation was underway. And people came out of their homes to survey the wreckage of the past few days intense fighting.

Some even managed to shop at the market although the weapons of war were still in evidence.

Tonight the capital is bracing itself for more air attacks and waiting to see what will happen when Boris Yeltsin's ultimatum runs out.

And the Russian prisoners-of-war are left to ponder their uncertain future.

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