Grozny - Parts of the Chechen capital, Grozny, were reduced to smouldering ruins yesterday as Russian jets pounded the city.
In some of the heaviest air strikes since Russia began its campaign last week, bombers and fighter aircraft attacked four districts of the city, setting two oil refineries ablaze.
The bombing has sent tens of thousands of Chechens fleeing to the west.
Fourteen people were reported killed by one of the air strikes although there has been no independent corroboration of the casualty figures.