A top Russian commander said Saturday that federal forces have completely surrounded Grozny, capital of the breakaway republic of Chechnya.

"I can report to you officially today that the city of Grozny is completely blockaded," General Viktor Kazantsev, commander of the forces carrying out the Chechen operation, told Russia's independent NTV television.

Meanwhile, federal aircraft are bombing rebels in Grozny and the town of Urus-Martan, a major gateway to Grozny.

Su-24 bombers and Su-25 attack planes flew 25 sorties to Chechnya in the past day, the Interfax news agency reported Saturday, citing the federal troops' headquarters in the North Caucasus.

The raids created blockades in the Argun gorge and damaged several bridges throughout Chechnya, the headquarters said.

Airstrikes were delivered on south-bound retreating militants. Early reports show that 30 vehicles carrying extremists from Urus- Martan to mountainous areas were destroyed.

As federal troops stepped up their assaults, Chechen rebels are persevering in their attempts to infiltrate the federal-controlled districts of Chechnya and neighboring North Caucasus republics, the headquarters said.

Russian troops have reportedly captured 97 of 199 residential areas of Chechnya, authorities said.

The current campaign in Chechnya came after armed incursions by Chechen rebels into neighboring Daghestan and a series of terrorist bombings that claimed over 300 people in Moscow and two other Russian cities. Chechen rebels were blamed for the blasts.

Federal authorities said Saturday that up to 2,500 militants have assembled in southeastern Chechnya as Chechen warlords plan to invade Daghestan again, take numerous hostages to force Moscow to end the anti-terrorist operation, Interfax reported. (Xinhua)