Russian Defense Ministry says an attack in Russia's breakaway republic of Chechnya has left at least five Russian soldiers dead and about 20 others wounded.
Pro-Kremlin officials in Chechnya say gunmen attacked the military convoy near the town of Avtury southeast of the Chechen capital, Grozny.
Chechnya has been the scene of bloody fighting between Muslim separatists and Russian government forces for more than a decade.
But earlier Tuesday Russian President Vladimir Putin told a Moscow meeting with non-governmental organizations that there are no combat actions in Chechnya, just outbursts of terrorist attacks. He said local security officials have taken a lead role in dealing with the problem.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.