Far more is asserted about Russia's acting president, Mr. Vladimir Putin, than is known. He rose through the state security apparatus, where his steely eye and no-nonsense demeanor impressed President Boris Yeltsin, who named him acting prime minister in August last year. Upon Mr. Yeltsin's surprise resignation on New Year's Eve, Mr. Putin assumed that post, and he is expected to win it outright in the election scheduled for March 26, if the war in Chechnya goes well for Russia. That is a big if, however, and only one of the many unknowns that swirl around Mr. Putin.

Officially, Russia is winning the war against the Islamic forces in Chechnya. Last week, the government declared that it had finally penetrated the center of Grozny and started a final assault to take control of the capital of the rebel province. That news was tempered by reports, since confirmed, that the deputy commander of the Russian Army leading the offensive was killed by sniper fire during the attack.

The building-to-building fighting for the city center will be the most dangerous part of the war. In the 1994-96 Chechen war, the rebels lured Russian troops into the capital and then decimated them in savage fighting. Until this last drive, the Russian Army had kept its distance, pounding the city with artillery and from the air to reduce it to rubble and deprive the Muslim fighters of cover. Now the idea is to launch one last surge, capture Grozny, declare victory and go home, whereupon Mr. Putin will campaign as the savior of Russia and win resoundingly.