This requires a fairly long explanation. But, here are thehighlights:After Boris Yeltsin allowed the collapse of the Soviet Union theSoviet Republics declared their independence. But, Chechnya was notconsidered a Soviet Republic. Rather it was a part of the RussianFederation of republics. But, they hated Russia and declared theirindependence too. Yeltsin feared the secession of Chechnya wouldprompt a me-too of independence movements within the vast RussianFederation. In addition he hoped to recover Chechnya's valuable oilresources.