A Senior Russian general was killed and another seriously injured in an attack on an army convoy in the unstable North Caucasus yesterday, heightening fears that even territories not actively seeking independence may be slipping from Moscow's grasp.
The ambush, made in hilly country on the borderland between the autonomous regions of North Ossetia and Ingushetia, was blamed on rogue fighters from the rebel territory of Chechenia who had refused to accept the peace treaty with Russia.
The ease with which the attackers made their escape will strengthen suspicion in Moscow that Ingushetia, ethnically close to Chechenia but more loyal to Russia, is turning a blind eye to guerrilla activity. The previous day, 10 Russian servicemen were kidnapped by gunmen in Ingushetia in broad daylight.
Yesterday's ambush took place as a column of Russian army jeeps cut across Ingushetia on their way between military bases in North Ossetia.
At least four people were killed and seven injured when the vehicles came under fire from small arms and grenade-launchers. Among the dead was Gen Victor Prokopenko, an officer of Russia's general staff.
Gen Nikolai Mukhin, deputy commander of Russia's artillery, received severe head injuries and was due to be flown to Moscow for brain surgery.
The Chechen authorities, who despite their aim of full independence are trying to build stable relations with Russia, condemned the attack as a provocation against peace and promised help in tracking down the attackers, although they criticised Russia for assuming the assailants were Chechens.
Chechenia is internationally recognised as part of Russia, but since Russian troops, beaten in battle, withdrew two years ago, the government in Moscow has had no control over law enforcement there.
The attack coincided with a meeting in Moscow between Russia's acting interior minister, Gen Sergei Stepashin, and his Chechen counterpart, Mr Kazbek Makhashev, in an effort to improve co-operation.
The Acting Prime Minister, Mr Sergei Kiriyenko, had talks in Moscow yesterday with deputies of all political hues in a lastminute attempt to drum up support for his candidacy. But members of Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, remained sceptical of his chances of success.
Faction leaders in the Duma reiterated forecasts which have prevailed since President Yeltsin nominated the young reformer to the second most powerful post in the country: Mr Kiriyenko will struggle to secure the 226 votes needed for confirmation in today's vote.