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Narrated by Aslanbek Dalayev (born on August 28, 1958)
"...My family (seven people plus my mother-in-law makes it eight total) were under artillery fire on October 29, 1999, as we were moving in the convoy with the other refugees from Argun to Kalinovskaya. The day before there was a broadcast saying that on October 29, 1999, a safe passage would be provided to those who wanted to leave the war zone (it was also announced on TV). So we trusted the Russian Government, and left in the "safe" direction as instructed.
Artillery fire hit the convoy unexpectedly. We jumped out of the truck where four families were riding, ran into the field, and lay down on the ground : there was nowhere to hide. The cannonade went on. I saw a Zhiguli car hit by a shell; two women and a man died there. I heard Emiyeva scream (she was wounded). Her father rushed to help but got shot straight into his heart; he died [instantly], right there in the field. All of us sustained a terrible shock; I do not remember much of what was happening. Then a truck boarded by teenagers pulled nearby us, and we were invited to jump in. We declined the invitation, fearing that all of us would be killed as soon as we got up from the ground. We waved to them to go away, not to let themselves killed. They wouldn't leave though; they jumped off and picked up the dead and the wounded. All of my children scattered around the field so that I couldn't even find them. My mother-in-law was wounded, and so was my wife."
Chechnya, 1996