31.  But along the river lies a string of farming villages, including Chernokozovo, where invading Russian forces have met their first resistance.

32.  But along the Terek river lies a string of farming villages, including Chernokozovo, where invading Russian forces have met their first Chechen resistance.

33.  But even as Russian forces appeared to be finally winning the battle for Grozny, it was clear that they were still a long way from winning the war.

34.  But he contended that the Russian forces suffer from doing their job carelessly.

35.  But in recent conflicts between Russian forces and Islamic rebels, the federal command has relied on OMON detachments.

36.  But in the end, the battle was waged by Russian military forces, which continued to fly fresh troops into the region as late as Tuesday.

37.  But it seems apparent that military leaders, sickened by the defeat of Russian forces in Grozny, are eager to strike back with overwhelming force and firepower.

38.  But it was unclear how long Russian forces had agreed to stop fighting.

39.  But no official government ultimatum has been issued, and Russian forces later reportedly pulled back a bit from the center of town.

40.  But that doctrine has been widened to include conventional conflicts in which Russian forces were outnumbered.