11.  Reports of Russian attacks on civilians in Chechnya have been common during the campaign to subdue the separatist republic.

12.  The city was carpeted in a deep fog Sunday, preventing Russian attack helicopters from firing weapons with precision.

13.  The rebels said they would respond to the Russian attacks with a new offensive.

14.  The Russian attack planes are circling over this horrible scene like hawks.

15.  The Russian attacks took place barely a week after Moscow declared that it had triumphed over Islamic militants who have crossed into Dagestan from Chechnya.

16.  The Taliban has said it would hold the two states liable for any Russian attacks.

17.  There were no rebels in the town at the time of the Russian attack, villagers said.

18.  This time, though their leaders have expressed determination to resist the Russian attacks, they seem weary of the fighting and desperate for the bombardments to end.

19.  Thousands of civilians still inhabit the city, complicating the Russian attack.

20.  To defend would invite a Russian attack and one vital mistake.