2006 Avtury ambush

Avtury ambush
Part ofSecond Chechen War
Date July 4, 2006 Location NearAvtury,Chechnya Result Rebel victory
Belligerents
GRU	Chechen separatists Caucasian Front
Commanders and leaders
?	Abu Hafs al-Urduni Isa Muskiyev
Casualties and losses
Officially 6-7 killed and 12-20 wounded Rebels claimed 20 killed and 30 wounded	Officially none

Avtury GRU ambushwas the July 4, 2006ambushinChechnya.

The attack

15-20 Chechen rebel fighters led byAbu Hafs al-Urduniand armed withheavy machine guns,assault rifles,grenade launchersandrocket-propelled grenadesopened fire from a forested area in Avtury on a motorized column of theGRUSpetsnaz16th Brigade fromTambov,composed of several military trucks and onearmored personnel carrier.

The attack, which lasted for about an hour, completely destroyed the motorized column, killed between 7 and 30 Russian soldiers, and wounded as many as 30 others; effectively stopping the flow of reinforcements and weapons to Russian troops in Avtury Chechnya, according toRussiansources.Separatist websites announced the attack was a "meticulously planned act of revenge" by CommandersAbu Hafs al-Urduniand Abu Yassir for the death of the Chechen rebel leaderAbdul-Halim Sadulayev.They said the Russians lost "close to 40" men and that they themselves suffered no casualties. A video of the attack which circulates on the internet was made giving a tribute toAbdul-Halim Sadulayevand then showing the planning and execution of the attack.

On the same day,Russian PresidentVladimir Putinsaid the term "combat operations" can no longer be used with regards to Chechnya: "There are outbursts of terrorist actions, but no combat actions in Chechnya,"Putin said.