What happened when Russia invaded Chechnya during the Chechen War?

Russia initially expected a swift victory in Chechnya but encountered fierce resistance, resulting in a brutal quagmire. Frustrated by heavy casualties, Russian forces shifted tactics to overwhelming artillery fire and airstrikes, systematically destroying cities and villages with little regard for civilian life. This devastating approach killed an estimated 27,000 civilians in Grozny within just five weeks—about 6% of the capital's pre-war population. The military also established filtration camps where approximately 200,000 Chechens were detained throughout the conflict, and incidents like the Semashki massacre, where soldiers killed up to 300 civilians, drew international condemnation. By summer 1996, Chechnya was absolutely devastated.