The diary is authentic, started in October 1994 and finished on January 17, 1995. It is conducted on behalf of an elderly Russian man who, during the Chechen War, was in Grozny in his apartment, trying to somehow protect his property. The author, of course, is not me. All my merit in this case was only to reprint the text from the manuscript. There were fears that the diary could cause negative nationalist sentiments, so I thought for a long time whether to print it as it is or make a few changes to the text. But I decided that war is war, we are talking about an interethnic conflict, so let’s call a spade a spade. It should be noted that civilians did not take either the Russian or Chechen side in this war. They, regardless of the nation, tried to survive. I will call the author a peaceful resident of the city of Grozny, mentioning that he and his ancestors, the Terek Cossacks, lived here from time immemorial and defended the southern borders of Russia. On my own behalf, I can write a bad wish: if anyone If a politician comes up with the great idea of smashing, destroying someone else’s city, start from your own, from the street where you were born, preferably from your house, just at the moment when your parents were going to celebrate the New Year. N.G. Grichanova