The Chechen resistance movement's media organizations reported that a reconnaissance and sabotage brigade led by rebel commander Abdullah Shamil "Basayev" was responsible for the truck-bombing of a Grozny government building on 27 December 2003. Basayev said that a Kamaz truck carried 4 tons of TNT and a UAZ jeep 600 kg of TNT. The Kamaz was driven by the father of two children; the 15-year-old daughter sat together with her father and his 17-year-old son drove the UAZ. The mother of the family had been killed during bombing and pro-Moscow Chechen forces had recently killed the elder son. Basayev has also claimed responsibility for organizing and carrying out the recent Moscow theater siege. 

Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov said that he had arranged for peace talks to begin. The government has has previously refused to deal with Maskhadov, who was the leader of Chechnya in 1999 when the Russians invaded. 

In Chechnya, rebel actions left three policemen and three rebels dead.