Russo-Georgian War

2008 South Ossetia war
Part of Georgian-Ossetian conflict
Location of Russia, Georgia, and South Ossetia
Date August 1, 2008 – present Location Georgia Status Conflict ongoing
Belligerents
South Ossetian separatists Russia Abkhazian separatists	Georgia
Commanders and leaders
Eduard Kokoity Dmitry Medvedev Anatoliy Serdyukov Marat Kulakhmetov Sergei Bagapsh	Mikheil Saakashvili Davit Kezerashvili Zaza Gogava
Strength
1 battalion of troops formerly used for peacekeeping, possibly 3,000 total Thousands of troops formerly used for peacekeeping, thousands of other troops in Georgia Reportedly hundreds of volunteers Unknown number in Kodori Valley, 1,000 volunteers in South Ossetia according to Abkhazia	1 battalion of troops formerly used for peacekeeping, unknown number of other troops. Russia alleges an unknown number of mercenaries, some said to be from the United States. Reportedly small number of ethnic Georgian volunteers from Azerbaijan
Casualties and losses
More than 1,600 killed (according to South Ossetian separatists) 21 soldiers killed, 150 wounded and 2 captured (according to Russia) Russia confirms loss of two aircraft.	Around 300 killed, mostly civilians (according to Georgia)
Up to 20,000 displaced according to the United Nations refugee agency.

Template:Georgia-Russia The 2008 South Ossetia war is a military conflict between Georgia, South Ossetian and Abkhazian separatists which gain military support from Russia, that began in August 2008 following several days of heavy fighting between the Georgian army and South Ossetian militias. Georgia launched a surprise military operation to recapture control of the unrecognised Republic of South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia, saying the action was in response to separatist attacks on Georgian villages. South Ossetia denied the attacks occurred.

On August 8, Russia, responded by moving additional troops across the Georgian border, bringing tanks and artillery into South Ossetia. The Russian government stated that its justification for entering Georgian territory was to protect Russian citizens and its peacekeepers in South Ossetia. Russia alleges 12 of its peacekeepers were killed by Georgian forces. Russian ships have begun patrolling Georgian Black Sea ports, though Russia denies it is a blockade.

Most international reactions have called for a peaceful solution to the conflict. The European Union (EU) and the United States (U.S.) will send a joint delegation to try to negotiate a cease fire.

Background

Main articles: Georgian-Ossetian conflict and 2008 Georgia-Russia crisis

Georgian snipers during the small-scale Georgian-Ossetian hostilities in 2004.

The Ossetians are a distinct Iranic ethnic group whose origin lies along the Don River. They came to the Caucasus after they were driven out of their homeland by Mongol invasions in the 13th century. Some of them settled in North Ossetia, which is now part of Russia, and others settled in South Ossetia, which is recognised by all members of the United Nations as part of Georgia. South Ossetia currently has a Georgian ethnic minority of about one fifth (14,000) of the total population (70,000). The region, which is one and a half times the area of Luxembourg (roughly 6% of the total territory of Georgia) broke away from Georgia in the 1991–1992 war (in which more than 2,000 people are believed to have died) because, as the BBC says, South Ossetians wanted to unite with the rest of their ethnic group in North Ossetia and did not want to accept being citizens of the Georgian government in Tbilisi. A force with 500 troops each from Russia, North Ossetia-Alania (part of Russia), South Ossetia and Georgia monitored a 1992 truce. Georgia accuses the Russian troops of siding with the separatists, which Moscow denies. Sporadic clashes between separatist and Georgian forces have killed dozens of people in the previous few years. The President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, proposed a peace deal under which South Ossetia would be given "a large degree of autonomy" within a federal state. The separatist leaders say they want full independence.

Restoring South Ossetia and Abkhazia—a region with a similar secessionist movement—to Georgian control has been a major goal for Saakashvili since the Rose Revolution. Additionally, since 2002, the US Army has been providing large amounts of support and training to Georgia. Georgia has planned for huge military costs in 2008, estimated at USD 0.99 billion, more than 4.5% GDP (purchasing power parity) or about 9% GDP (currency exchange rate) and more than a quarter of all Georgian public income for 2008.

Today, many of the residents of South Ossetia are Russian citizens holding Russian passports: according to the BBC, "more than half of South Ossetia's 70,000 citizens are said to have taken up Moscow's offer of a Russian passport." Dmitry Medvedev claims 90% of South Ossetia residents possess them. Russia has argued this justifies intervention to protect its citizens, within its peacekeeping mission.

Overview

After several years of dispute over the status of South Ossetia, Georgian troops (reportedly with Headquarters at Tirdznisi) conducted an operation to dislodge Russian peacekeepers from their positions, and occupy South Ossetia, notably its capital Tskhinvali.

Georgian forces advanced into South Ossetia along three axes:
In the western Ossetia-Georgia border sector

• Georgian troops advanced along the 40km western border as far north as Kvaisi to a depth of some 5-15km. A separate axis of advance sought to occupy Znaur or advance beyond it to about 20km into the Southern Ossetian territory. The advance was along the Qvirila river valley and the Zestaponi - Sachkhere railway.

In the southern Ossetia-Georgia border sector

• In the western sector of the front, Georgian troops advanced on a narrow front of some 4km towards Avnevi and to Khetagurovo, although they did not succeed entering the later. An artillery unit was deployed in Avnevi.
• In the central sector of the front, the Georgian troops temporarily entered Tskhinvali, advancing on a narrow front of 4-5km, but primarily attempted to bypass it as an objective, while attempting to secure the Liakhvi River valley (Didi Liakhvi), and its road and railway as far as Kemerti 10km away. Supporting artillery units were deployed in Kvemo-Nikozi and Ergneti to the southwest and southeast of Tskhinvali.
• In the northern sector of the front, the Georgian troops advanced along the Minor Liakhvi river valley (a tributary of Liakhvi ) on a wide front of 10-12km, between Prisi and Helchua, seeking to link this valley directions of advance with the central sector. Although they were able to penetrate as far as Vanati at the bend of the Minor Liakhvi, Kochati-Sarabuki villages were not taken, or occupied only temporarily. The Georgian troops were unable to take Dmenisi, a major village on the north-eastern flank of the advance, and the advance guard of the northern sector became almost cut off from the other forces forcing it to seek a breakout from a possible encirclement, and halting the overall Georgian advance.

During the 9-10 August the South Ossetian and Russian forces that had recovered from the initial Georgian offensive were able to bypass the Georgian troops in the Liakhvi valley from the northwest by advancing over Height 1134, and with a pincer offensive retaking Tskhinvali from the western outskirts of the city, cutting off Georgian troops in the valley to the north from their lines of communication, and forcing a general withdrawal of Georgian troops. To complete the encirclement, Russian troops occupied Height 1475 east of Tskhinvali, thereby also securing line of fire over the Prisi - Dmenisi road that runs along the northern sector of the Georgian front.

A separate sector of advance penetrated some 10km into the Southern Ossetian territory along the Eastern Prone stream valley west of Liakhvi River.

In the eastern Ossetia-Georgia border sector
Georgian troops advanced on a broad front to a depth of 15-20km, occupying Akhalgor (Leningori) as far as Churpia stream, a source of the Ksani River, and after negotiating the mountainous terrain, entered the Liakhvi River valley from the east, seeking to link up with the forces advancing in the central sector of the southern border advance at Kemerti, and seeking to occupy Beloti, another of the larger cities in South Ossetia. This effectively cut South Ossetia in two, with the eastern third being cut off from the rest of the territory.

Timeline

August 1 – August 7: Towards the war

Beginning late on 1 August, intense fighting began between Georgian troops and paramilitary soldiers of South Ossetia causing the deaths of six people and the injuries of twenty-one others. Each side accused the other of commencing the fighting. On 3 August, the Russian government allowed South Ossetians to begin evacuation into Russia, which resulted in twenty bus-loads of refugees leaving the region on the first day.

On August 4, five battalions of Russian 58th Army were moved to the vicinity of Roki Tunnel that links South Ossetia with North Ossetia

Sporadic fighting continued throughout the next several days. On 6 August, Georgia said it lost an APC and that three Georgian soldiers were wounded. Four people were killed that night and Georgia resumed shelling at daybreak. Residents once again began evacuating areas of South Ossetia and Georgia moved tanks, artillery, and troops to the border. The Georgian Interior Ministry reported up to ten Georgian soldiers died in the clashes throughout 7 August.

"A sniper war is ongoing against residents of the villages in the South Ossetian conflict zone and as I speak now intensive fire is ongoing from artillery, from tanks, from self-propelled artillery systems – which have been brought in the conflict zone illegally – and from other types of weaponry, including mortars and grenade launchers", Saakashvili said in a live televised address made at 19:10 7 August local time. However, by the day's end, Saakashvili ordered a unilateral ceasefire. Saakashvili called for talks "in any format"; reaffirmed the long-standing offer of full autonomy for South Ossetia; proposed that Russia should guarantee that solution; offered a general amnesty; and pleaded for international intercession to stop the hostilities. Georgia reiterated that it was prepared to engage in direct talks with the de facto government of Tskhinvali without any conditions.

August 7 – August 8: Georgian involvement

Main article: Battle of Tskhinvali

A Georgian Su-25 warplane, similar to the ones used by Georgia during the war.

Georgia reported that during the attempted ceasefire, attacks on Georgian-controlled villages in South Ossetia intensified. They said the village of Avnevi was almost completely destroyed, Tamarasheni and Prisi were shelled, and that the police station in Kurta, seat of the Sanakoyev administration, was hit by artillery fire. Georgia reported that civilians had begun fleeing these villages.

Georgia began a military offensive into South Ossetia commanded by Mamuka Kurashvili, which they said was a response the above-mentioned alleged attacks against Georgian villiages. However, South Ossetia denied attacking the villages. Kurashvili stated that the purpose of the operation was to restore constitutional order in the region. This caused an increased number of refugees to cross into Russia. Interfax quoted South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity as saying his forces were confronting Georgians in the outskirts of Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia; he noted that fierce fighting was under way.

At 00:53 on 8 August (local time, 20:53 7 August UTC), Georgian forces began shelling the city, which allegedly included the route along which refugees were being moved. As the day progressed, Russian media reported that at least fifteen civilians had been killed in Tskhinvali. The Georgian Army crossed the border of South Ossetia on the early hours of August 8 2008 after overnight bombardment of Tskhinvali by heavy artillery (howitzers), 122 mm multiple-launch rocket systems "Grad", and large-caliber mortars. Tanks and APC supported by artillery launched a thrust towards Tskhinvali. Opposed by South Ossetian forces, Georgians advanced and by the end of August 8th controlled a significant portion of the city. At 04:45 (00:45 UTC), Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili announced that Tskhinvali was nearly surrounded, and that Georgia controlled two-thirds of South Ossetia's territory. The result of Georgian night-day offensive was more than 1,600 civilians killed according to South Ossetian sources, about 100 - according to the Georgians.

According to the President of North Ossetia-Alania Taimuraz Mamsurov, a number of Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft of the Georgian Air Force attacked what he described to be a humanitarian aid convoy en route from Vladikavkaz. Mamsurov, who had accompanied the convoy and witnessed the attack, was unharmed. Earlier, he told the Interfax news agency that hundreds of armed volunteers from North Ossetia were heading to the Tskhinvali area. Abkhazian leader Sergei Bagapsh said that volunteers from Abkhazia were on the way to help the South Ossetians. It was later announced that an unspecified number of Abkhazian army units had advanced to the border of the arms limitation zone between Abkhazia and Georgia.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session in New York City and released a statement to express "serious concerns at the escalation of violence." The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported 1,100 refugees arrived in North Ossetia by bus to escape the violence.

August 8: Russian involvement

On the morning of 8 August, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who was in Beijing attending the 2008 Summer Olympics, condemned the "aggressive actions" by Georgia and said that Russia would be compelled to retaliate. By 09:30, Medvedev convened an emergency session of government officials to consider Russia’s options regarding the conflict.

Movements of opposing forces on 8 August. Blue arrows show Georgian advances, red show Russian

Half an hour later, Georgian sources reported that three Russian Su-24 Fencer attack aircraft flew into the Georgian airspace and dropped two bombs close to a police station near the town of Kareli, which borders South Ossetia. The source also reported that the nearby city of Gori suffered a brief Russian air strike, with no casualties. Russian authorities rejected these reports, but a Daily Telegraph correspondent later reported that he saw unidentified jets near Gori, and the Georgian military described them as "Russian warplanes".

By 11:40, Saakashvili mobilized the Georgian reserve troops amid what he referred to as "a large-scale military aggression" by Russia and called for Russia to stop "bombardment of the Georgian towns". Contradicting a Georgian report, the Russian Ministry of Defence denied that a Russian fighter plane had been shot down above Georgian territory, calling it "informational provocation". A spokesman for the Russian forces in South Ossetia said that Georgian shells directly hit barracks in Tskhinvali, killing 12 Russian soldiers and wounding 30.

Georgia reported that they offered a three-hour ceasefire starting 15:00 local time (11:00 UTC), to let civilians leave the besieged capital of Tskhinvali. However, at 10:29 UTC, Marat Kulakhmetov, commander of the Russian forces in the region, said that "these are further lies from the Georgian side. No corridor for civilians has been opened."

The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the Georgians had killed at least 10 Russian soldiers and wounded 30 in the first shelling of their base at the city; later that number was revised to 13 KIA and 70 wounded. A column of Russian tanks from the 58th Army began moving to Tskhinvali to help. Saakashvili said that the Russian column consisted of 150 tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and other equipment. A press video from 8 August showed Russian T-72 tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and 152 mm 2S3 self-propelled howitzers moving south into the conflict zone.

An Su-27 air superiority fighter during aerobatics. Russia used Su-27s to gain airspace control over Tskhinvali.

Russian media reported that the Georgian army was falling back from Tskhinvali and Russian Su-24 bombers and Su-27 fighters were in complete control of the airspace above Tskhinvali. Kulakhmetov said that as a result of Georgian heavy bombardment, Tskhinvali is almost totally destroyed. Gas pipes, a hospital, and other objects of infrastructure were hit. According to France Press, at 12:00 UTC the National Security Council of Georgia (through a statement of Council Secretary Alexander Lomaia) declared that if messages about Russian tanks in South Ossetia are confirmed, then Georgia would declare war on Russia. Russian tanks entered Tskhinvali shortly after, and by nightfall Russian and South Ossetian forces controlled a large part of the city.

The Georgian Interior Ministry said that a Russian fighter dropped two bombs on a military base in Vaziani, near Tbilisi. Russian fighters also bombed a military airfield in Marneuli, near Tbilisi. At least four people were killed and another five wounded in the air strike in Marneuli, while three Georgian soldiers were killed at Vaziani. According to the source in the Russian Ministry of Defense, "the warplanes attacked only military targets: military base in Gory' Vaziani and Marneuli airfields, where [Georgian] Su-25 and L-39 airplanes are based, and the radar station 40 kilometers from Tbilisi". When asked why Russian warplanes entered Georgian airspace well before Russian government approved the involvement in Southern Ossetia conflict, the officer responded, "According to the orders from the higher command."

Saakashvili initially said that Georgia was pulling its 2,000-strong troops from Iraq. The head of Georgia's Security Council, Kakha Lomaia, later clarified that only 1,000 troops were being redeployed, telling Reuters, "We have already communicated to our American friends that we are going to withdraw half our contingent of soldiers in Iraq within days because we are under Russian aggression." According to Georgia, the US will provide the aircraft for transportation - a move that could risk US involvement into the conflict; US officials have only said that all transportation options were being explored.

Vladimir Putin after the opening ceremonies in Beijing for the Olympics said to U.S. President George W. Bush that a real war had begun in Ossetia, to which Bush replied that no one wanted war, and Putin added that it is difficult to maintain peace in Caucasus.

August 9: Escalation

File:Tupolev Tu-22m3.jpg

A Ukrainian Tu-22M: a similar Tu-22M of Russia was downed by the Georgians during the war.

US president George W. Bush commented on the situation on 9 August from Beijing where he was for the Olympic Games: "The United States takes this matter very seriously [...] Georgia is a sovereign nation and its territorial integrity must be respected."

Russian media reported that heavy gunfire between Russian and Georgian troops resumed during the night. It was also reported that an airfield near Tbilisi was bombed in the early hours of the day.

At approximately 06:00 UTC, an unnamed source from the Russian military command told Russian media that units of the 58th Army had completely driven out Georgian forces from Tskhinvali.Later, this information was officially confirmed by Russian Ministry of Defence. However Georgian sources claimed being in control of the S. Ossetian capital throughout the day (quoted by Russian state news agency Interfax)

At 06:27 UTC Reuters reported that two Russian fighters bombed Georgian artillery near Gori. Georgia said 60 civilians were killed when at least one bomb hit an apartment in Gori.

At 07:41 UTC Lenta.Ru (via RIA Novosti) reported that units of the 76th Airborne Division of Russian Airborne Troops (VDV), from Pskov, moved to Tskhinvali. According to the commander of Russian Ground Forces, Igor Konashenkov, they were transferred to strengthen the Russian Ground Forces. He also stated unspecified units of the Ivanovo-based 98th Airborne Division of Russian Airborne Troops and Spetsnaz from the Moscow-based 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment will be moved to the conflict area. This information was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defence's press service.

At 07:57 UTC it was reported by the Russian side that the 58th Army had fully freed Tskhinvali of Georgian armed forces.

At 08:30 UTC, the Russian General Staff confirmed the loss of two jets: a Su-25 and a Tupolev Tu-22M (the latter later claimed by Russian ministry of defense to be performing aerial reconnaissance); Georgia claimed they had actually downed 10 jets and captured 3 pilots. South Ossetia claimed they had shot down two Georgian jets. A Georgian official stated that Georgia had shot down a Russian jet fighter and captured its pilot.

At 10:30 UTC, Russian paratroopers land in South Ossetia. President Saakashvili calls for ceasefire in his speech.

At 10:41 aerial attacks were carried out in the east part of Kodori Valley, the only part of Abkhazia which is under effective Georgian control. Initially, Georgia blamed the attacks on the Russian Air Force. However, it was later ascertained that the attacks were carried out by Abkhazia, as was indeed claimed by Abkhazian President Sergey Bagapsh.

At 11:25 UTC, President Saakashvili asks his country's parliament to announce a "state of war". The parliament has approved the request, declaring "state of war" in Georgia for the duration of 15 days; David Bakradze, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, commenting that "according to the current situation, Georgia is de-facto at an unannounced war with Russia." The Georgian "state of war" order is not a formal declaration of war, and stops short of declaring martial law.

At around lunch time local time on 9 August, Saakashvili said he proposed a cease fire and the separation of the warring parties. Georgia's Security Council secretary, Alexander Lomaia, said Saakashvili's proposal meant that the Georgian troops would withdraw from Tskhinvali, the provincial capital of South Ossetia, and stop responding to Russian shelling. Russia's ambassador to NATO Dmitri Rogozin said that Russia can start negotiations only if Georgian forces withdraw to the positions they held before the conflict began. At 16:15 the Russian Defense Ministry said it had not received any ceasefire proposal from Georgia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the only solution was for Georgian troops to leave the conflict zone.

Lomaia also reported that Russia had bombed the Black Sea port of Poti and had started to bomb civil and economic infrastructure. There were also reports by the Associated Press of Russian ships patrolling the waters off Poti, though Russia denies they are implementing a blockade. Lenta.ru reported that all Russian TV channels had been banned from broadcasting in Georgia, with Georgia alleging that Russia was conducting an ongoing information war. Meanwhile, Russia cut off all air connections with Georgia. On the same day, the United Nations once again failed to reach consensus on how to word any request for a cessation of hostilities. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that the Russian Federation begins operation "to force the Georgian side to peace".

According to a source in the Georgian government, the Roki Tunnel used by Russians to bring in supplies and reinforcements has been demolished. Russian Ministry of Defense denied the report.

The US embassy in Georgia organized an evacuation convoy to leave for Yerevan on August 10th and a second one scheduled for August 11th and invites American citizens in the region to join them, while it also issued a travel warning.

Assistant Commander of Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone Vladimir Ivanov claimed that Georgian troops in Tskhinvali are surrendering to the South Ossetian side but that fighting is going on in the village of Nikozi.

Lithuania's (member of EU and NATO) Head of Foreign Affairs, Petras Vaitiekūnas, together with the Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili visited the Gori region. Mr. Vaitekūnas said, that the destruction and the number of casualties of civilians shocked him. He also promised aid to the region.

According to Azerbaijani media, several ethnic Georgians of Azerbaijani citizenship in Qakh and Zaqatala regions of Azerbaijan had crossed the Azerbaijani-Georgian border to join Georgian forces.

August 10: Georgia begins withdrawing from Tskhinvali

A Czech RM-70 multiple rocket launcher. Similar RM-70s were used by Georgia during the war in the Battle of Tskhinvali.

Georgian refugees from South Ossetia asking for help outside the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi.

Reuters reported that South Ossetian officials claimed that fighting on Tskhinvali's southern fringes had ended at about mid-night; however, these reports could not be substantiated. Reuters further reported that the Russian commander of the 58th Army in South Ossetia, Lieutenant General Anatoly Khrulyov, was wounded by Georgian forces outside of Tskhinvali early Sunday morning.

The Georgian Interior Ministry claimed that Russia had moved 6,000 soldiers into South Ossetia by land and another 4,000 into Abkhazia by sea, all preparing to attack at dawn. Vladimir Putin, after attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, flew to North Ossetia to oversee what he called a humanitarian operation and announce that now it was unlikely that South Ossetia could ever reintegrate within Georgia. His spokesperson gave assurances that the visit had no military component, and in the morning Putin left for Gorki outside Moscow to meet Russian president Medvedev.

Putin said the government was ready to earmark up to RUB10.1 billion (approximately $US425 million) for aid to the region.

It has been reported around 07:23 UTC that, according to a source in Russian Navy commandment, several Russian ships have approached the Georgian border by sea, namely: the Flagship of Black Sea Fleet rocket cruiser Moskva, escort vessel Smetlivy, three large landing crafts and several support vessels. The source claimed that Russian ships do not block Georgian coast, because "Russia is not at war with Georgia". The announced goal of the operation is to provide help for refugees; however, another source in Russian Navy commandment noted that the convoy has orders to prevent armaments or military equipment delivery to Georgia by sea. Georgian National Security Council Secretary Alexandre Lomaia stated that Russian ships entered the Abkhazian port of Ochamchira. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on this. Meanwhile, Ukraine stated that it reserved the right to bar Russian warships dispatched to the Georgian coast from returning to their base in the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol.

There were conflicting reports as to the continuation of Georgian military actions. Georgia claimed that its forces were retreating from South Ossetia and the Foreign Ministry of Georgia announced that the government had declared a unilateral ceasefire. However, Russian troops refused to recognize a truce, claiming Georgian forces were not retreating, but merely regrouping. Georgia’s Internal Affairs Ministry spokesman, Shota Utiashvili, claimed that "Georgian troops have fully left South Ossetia", while according to Georgian Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili, Georgian troops had pulled out of Tskhinvali and, according to her, Georgian "forces have relocated and assumed new positions." Russian peacekeeping spokesman Vladimir Ivanov, however, stated that "Georgia did not remove its forces from South Ossetia. Our observation posts have spotted Georgian law-enforcement units, as well as artillery and armoured vehicles."

Russia later acknowledged the withdrawal was in progress, with a spokesman noting, "Units of the Georgian armed forces have started withdrawing from Tskhinvali. The withdrawal has been spotted by the peacekeeping forces' intelligence."

Sergei Bagapsh, president of Abkhazia, said he had sent 1,000 troops to the Kodori gorge and announced the mobilization of reservists to reinforce its positions. He warned Abkhazia was ready to "enforce order" and would go further if there was resistance from Georgia.

On August 10, at around 3:20 PM UTC, Georgia said that they ordered a ceasefire, and offered to start talks with Russia over an end to hostilities in South Ossetia. Russia confirmed receiving the offer but said that "the Georgian side has not stopped military actions in South Ossetia, Georgian troops continued shelling."

However, Russian and Georgian foreign ministers spoke over the phone. The conversation ended with Georgian minister promising to find out more about whether Georgian forces were withdrawn from South Ossetia.

Later in the day, Georgia reported that Tbilisi International Airport was the target of a Russian air strike, just a few hours before the scheduled arrival of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. The Russian Ministry of Defence dismissed the alleged bombing as "another disinformation" by Georgia.

The Russian Defense Ministry has announced that the Russian Navy has sunk a Georgian missile boat after two alleged attacks of such boats earlier that day. This was later confirmed by Russian Navy Commander Assistant Igor Dygalo. He said that there were four Georgian vessels and the remaining three of them fled in the direction of Georgian port of Poti.

At 19:00 UTC it was reported that Georgia agreed to the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Zugdidi of Georgia, on the border with Abkhazia on Georgian side. This was reported with link to words of Zaza Morohiya, the Governor of Zugdidi district.

Russian sources reported that citizens of Russia currently visiting Georgia for personal, family or leisure reasons are being prevented from leaving Georgian cities and settlements by Georgian police. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern and is planning to discuss this situation with international organizations.

According to Russian media, at nighttime Russian Airborne troops landed at Abkhazia "to exclude repeating of situation of the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia and to prevent Georgian military agression against Abkhazia". They have arrived to Sukhumi airport by military transport aircrafts.

Later, according to South Ossetia government representative Irina Gagloeva, two groups of Georgian saboteurs were captured near Tskhinvali, 8 troops in Znaur district, and another group of 11 near Zari road. Earlier, Vzglyad reported that another group of Georgian saboteurs was captured near Zari road, including one African-American, claimed to be a US citizen and NATO adviser; he was transported to Vladikavkaz for investigation.

August 11

In the early hours of August 11, it was reported by Russian sources that Tskhinvali is again under fire from Georgian artillery.

During an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, Zalmay Khalilzad alleged that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a diplomatic phone conversation, told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili "must go". Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin denied that, saying that he never used the alleged expression "regime change" and rather said that Saakashvili "cannot be considered as a partner" because "no decent person would talk to him". He said that if an agreement of not using military force is signed, the peace will be restored "whatever the fate of Saakashvili will be". He said Condoleezza Rice "misinterpreted" their phone conversation.

He also drew rebuke by stating that a briefing by a top U.N. official that contained a statement by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, "shows that the Secretariat of the United Nations and its leadership was not able to adopt that objective position that is required by the substance of this conflict". In early morning Moscow time, Russia declared itself ready to make peace with Georgia. U.N. officials confirmed that Georgia was prepared to negotiate with Russia by withdrawing troops from the breakaway province of South Ossetia and creating a safe travel zone. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Russia is "ready to put an end to the war," but also accused the U.N. secretary-general's office of taking Georgia's side. The agreement was confirmed by U.N. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynne Pascoe, during a briefing to the Security Council.

According to Georgian officials (quoted in the New York Times) large numbers of Russian Ground Forces had entered undisputed Georgian territory and were headed to Gori. Western Officials again reiterated their fears that Russia intends to overthrow the Georgian government. Russia denied any intention of occupying Georgia, "We have enough territory to think of, we don't need Georgia." said Aleksei Pavlov, a Kremlin spokesman. The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia claims that Russia began "intensive combat" in Gori following prior air strikes. Georgian troops reportedly returned fire. The representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense did not confirm or deny the reports.

In early morning Moscow time, Russia declared itself ready to make peace with Georgia. U.N. officials confirmed that Georgia was prepared to negotiate with Russia by withdrawing troops from the breakaway province of South Ossetia and creating a safe travel zone. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Russia is "ready to put an end to the war," but also accused the U.N. secretary-general's office of taking Georgia's side. The agreement was confirmed by U.N. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynne Pascoe, during a briefing to the Security Council.

South Ossetia government official representative Irina Gagloeva stated the morning of August 11 that Georgia opened the irrigation canal for the basements of Tskhinvali buildings to be flooded, thus preventing civilian people of hiding from bombings.

Russian Peacekeeping Forces Commander Assistant Alexander Novitskiy also reported that morning that 9,000 Russian troops and 350 armored vehicles had entered in Abkhazia the evening of August 10.

Humanitarian impact

Georgia

1993 map showing the defense industries of Georgia at the time: there is an aircraft assembly plant in Tblisi and component plants in other cities.

Georgia claimed Russia had bombed airfields and civil and economic infrastructure, including the Black Sea port of Poti. Between eight and eleven Russian jets reportedly hit container tanks and a shipbuilding plant at the port. The BBC reported that "In one air strike the pilot missed the intended military base, instead hitting two apartment blocks" in Gori, and the reporters "saw injured civilians being pulled from the buildings." Regarding this incident SkyNews reported that "a military installation had been hit in Gori and surrounding residential apartments had been badly damaged." Journalists referred to the situation in Gori as "chaotic". Georgia has alleged that Russia is committing ethnic cleansing against ethnic Georgians.

Agence France-Press reported that two journalists for The Messenger, Winston Featherly and Temouri Kigouradze, were wounded and hospitalized in Tskhinvali.

According to Lenta.ru, Alexander Klimchuk, chief of the Caucasus Press Images photo agency, and Grigol Chikhladze, another employee of the agency, were killed while entering South Ossetia with Georgian army forces.

Reuters reported an attack on the civilian Tbilisi International Airport, though Russia claims this is misinformation.

South Ossetia

Ethnic map of the Caucasus from 1995: Ossetians live in North and South Ossetia, as well as in central Georgia.

On Friday the 8th, the International Red Cross urged the combatant sides to make a humanitarian corridor to evacuate the wounded and civilians from Tskhinvali. Tskhinvali's main city hospital is reported to be non-functional, and ambulances cannot reach the wounded, while according to South Ossetian sources, Georgia continued to bomb the hospital. Twenty-two wounded remained in the building, which has only two storeys left. International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said it had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were "overflowing" with casualties. According to local officials, more than 150 people remain trapped under the rubble of the city hospital. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has alleged that Georgia is responsible for a "complete genocide."

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that thousands of refugees are leaving South Ossetia, mostly for North Ossetia. About 140 buses carrying thousands of refugees have already arrived the North Ossetia on Friday evening, according to Reuters. More refugees are said to be expected to arrive on Saturday.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has sent a mobile hospital to North Ossetia. The Russian President has ordered the government to take urgent measures to provide humanitarian aid to those leaving the conflict zone

Eduard Kokoity alleged that the death toll has risen to 1,400. According to Reuters this figure could not be confirmed. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on August 9 upon his return from Beijing to Vladikavkaz claimed that there had been, verbatim, "tens of people killed, hundreds wounded" and 34,000 refugees had crossed the Russian border. According to the United Nations refugee agency, between 10,000 and 20,000 people have been displaced within Georgia. Tskhinvali is reported to be lying in ruins, and more than ten border villages have reportedly also been burnt to the ground as of August 9.

The fighting has interrupted electricity and telephone service in Tskhinvali, and some inhabitants are reportedly sheltering in basements with no access to water or medicines. Several journalists on 9 August were reported hiding in the basements, as they appealed to world society for a peace corridor to let them out of Tskhinvali.

Russian Interfax News Agency says Russia sent 120 tons of food to South Ossetia and 17 tons of medicine to prevent humanitarian catastrophe. Russia said it plans to send a humanitarian aid convoy with 200 tons of food, 16 tons of medical supplies, six electricity genetators and water filters, from Russia's North Ossetian city of Vladikavkaz to Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, the Emergency Situation Minister said on 10 August.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised to spend 10 bln rubles ($420 million USD) to reconstruct the infrastructure and facilities in South Ossetia. The sum may increase after a thorough estimation of losses is provided.

Agence France-Press reports that two reporters working for the Turkish Kanalturk received bullet wounds.

Lenta.ru reported that Peter Gassiev, a Russian NTV channel producer, was injured in South Ossetia.

Russian sources claimed that a crew from Russian news channel Vesti came under fire. Correspondent Alexander Sladkov was shot in the leg, cameraman Leonid Losev received two bullets in his arm, and video engineer Igor Uklein was contused. All of them are evacuated to Vladikavkaz.

Regnum.ru reported that Alexander Kots, of Komsomolskaya Pravda, was wounded by rifle fire and evacuated.

Vesti radio reported that Georgian forces burned down a church in Tanara in South Ossetia where people were hiding, to the ground, with all the people inside. The Deputy Director of an information agency as an eye witness reported that fragments of cluster bombs were found in Tskinvali. He also reported that a Georgian task force entered the city and burned a family alive in their house, and that a column of fleeing refugees was attacked by Georgians. A South Ossetian reservist reported there were episodes when civilians were hiding in basements and Georgian soldiers would come in and gun them down.

At a meeting with South Ossetia refugees at a makeshift hospital camp in Alagir on 9 August, eyewitnesses told the Russian Prime Minister that Georgian troops had set fire to a house with several young women inside. "They were rounded up like cattle, shut into the house, and set on fire. In another place, we saw a tank run over an old woman who was running away with two children. We saw how they slashed up an 18-month child," a refugee said. Russian sources cited the representative of South Ossetia administration Irina Gagloeva asserting that Georgia opened an irrigation canal to flood the basements of Tskhinvali in order to prevent people from hiding in the basements of the buildings during bombings.

Financial market reaction

The effect of the war on the Russian financial markets was first noticed on the stock market benchmark index RTS which fell 6% by 8 August 2008 at 12:45 GMT in its lowest level (1,732.26) since May 2007, including blue chips such as Lukoil Holdings shares, and Russian analysts expect the fall to continue for some time but then to rise upwards again, recovering losses. The Russian ruble also fell by 1% relative to a basket of currencies.

The Georgian financial markets also suffered negative consequences as Fitch Ratings lowered Georgia's debt ratings from BB- to B+, commenting that there are increased risks to Georgian sovereign creditworthiness, while Standard and Poor's also lowered Georgian credit ratings.

Map of the Baku-Supsa and BTC pipelines throught the nation of Georgia.

While Georgia has no significant oil or gas reserves on its own, it is an important transit route that supplies the West, and journalists expressed fear that the war may damage the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, 30% of which is owned by BP. The BTC pipeline was shut down before the conflict and the war created further problems for the operating company. Georgia claims Russia is targeting the pipeline. On 8 August 2008, Russian air forces devastated the port of Poti, which is a key port for the transportation of energy sources, close to the Baku-Supsa pipeline and the Supsa oil terminal. The price of oil was not negatively affected by these events, on August 8 light sweet crude for September delivery settled down $4.82 to $115.20 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Cyberattacks and censorship

South Ossetian officials stated that two Ossetian news media sites were attacked. Dmitry Medoyev, the South Ossetian secessionist envoy in Moscow, claimed that Georgia was trying to cover up reports of deaths.

The National Bank of Georgia website was defaced and replaced with a gallery of known dictators of 20th century with Saakashvili added amongst them. Georgian newsportals were under Internet denial-of-service attacks and reportedly the site of the Georgian Ministry of Defence was cracked as well. The attacks are similar in nature to the 2007 cyberattacks on Estonia and were carried out with the same techniques.

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website was also defaced and replaced with a collage of Saakashvili and Adolf Hitler photos.

Websites of the aforementioned National Bank and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been offline, but are currently online. According to the New York Times, Georgian websites had been "crashing" frequently on 8th of August.

The Office of the President of Poland has provided the website for dissemination of information and helped to get access to the Internet for Georgia's government after breakdowns of local servers caused by cyberattacks.

Georgia had stopped broadcasting Russian television channels across the country and blocked access to all web sites in Top-level domain .ru. Web sites hosted on domains with addresses ending in .ru were said to be inaccessible from Georgia. Some pro-Russian sites in other zones were also reported to be blocked. Reuters claimed the websites were accessible again by Sunday evening.

RIA Novosti news agency's website was disabled for several hours on 10 August by a series of hacker attacks. "The DNS-servers and the site itself have been coming under severe attack," said Maxim Kuznetsov, head of the RIA Novosti IT department.

Demands to End Conflict

On August 10, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said in a news conference that the silence of Western nations during Georgia's initial incursion into South Ossetia "raises very serious questions about sincerity and their attitude towards our country," and also accused Western media of a reporting bias and lack of objectivity. He ruled out peace talks with Georgia until it pulled back its forces beyond the borders of South Ossetia and signed a legally binding pact renouncing the use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway territory of Georgia. Moscow has deployed warships off the Georgian coast to prevent the smuggling in of arms and other military supplies

Saakashvili ordered a unilateral ceasefire on August 7, 2008 and called for talks "in any format"; reaffirmed the long-standing offer of full autonomy for South Ossetia; proposed that Russia should guarantee that solution; offered a general amnesty; and pleaded for international intercession to stop the hostilities.

Combatant statements

Georgia

Demonstration against the Russian intervention outside the Russian embassy in Tbilisi on August 8, 2008.

Map of North and South Ossetia.

• "This is about annihilation of a democracy on their borders," Georgia President Mikhail Saakashvili told the British Broadcasting Corp. "We on our own cannot fight with Russia. We want immediate cease-fire, immediate cessation of hostilities, separation of Russia and Georgia and international mediation."
• Georgia's Security Council secretary, Alexander Lomaia, said Saakashvili's proposal means that the Georgian troops will withdraw from Tskhinvali, the provincial capital of South Ossetia, and stop responding to Russian shelling.
• Russia has "started a full-scale military invasion" of Georgia, the country's UN Ambassador Irakli Alasania said in New York.
• "If this is not war, then I wonder what is," Georgia's ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Victor Dolidze, told a crisis meeting of the OSCE's permanent council in Vienna.
• Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili stated, "What Russia is doing in Georgia is open, unhidden aggression and a challenge to the whole world. If the whole world does not stop Russia today, then Russian tanks will be able to reach any other European capital." He argued Russia was attacking Georgia because "[Georgia] want[s] to be free and we want to be a multi-ethnic democracy."
• Saakashvili accused Russia of a "well-planned invasion" and mobilised Georgia’s military reserves.
• In an interview with CNN, Saakashvili said that Georgia and Russia were practically at war. "We have Russian tanks moving in," he said. "We have continuous Russian bombardment since yesterday ... specifically targeting the civilian population. Russia is fighting a war with us in our own territory." He told the BBC: "Our troops are attacked by thousands of troops coming in from Russia."

Russia

A video interview of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to BBC is available on the Web.

• Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said, "The actions of the Georgian powers in South Ossetia are, of course, a crime — first of all against their own people," and alleged Georgia was committing "complete genocide". and opined that the territorial integrity of Georgia has suffered a fatal blow. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he was ordering the military prosecutor to document crimes against civilians (by Georgia) in South Ossetia. He said "The actions of the Georgian side led to deaths - among them are Russian peacekeepers. The situation reached the point that Georgian peacekeepers have been shooting at Russian peacekeepers. Now women, children and old people are dying in South Ossetia - most of them are citizens of the Russian Federation. According to the constitution, I, as the President of the Russian Federation, must protect lives and the dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are. Those responsible for the deaths of our citizens will be punished. He said that it aims to force Georgia to accept peace and restore the status quo, and that it is acting within its peacekeeping mission in South Ossetia, and in line with the mandate issued by the international community.
• At a meeting of the U.N. Security Council Saturday, the third in three days on the issue, Russia refused to agree to a cease-fire or a diplomatic agreement. The move ensured that the fighting with Georgia would keep spilling into other regions such as Abkhazia's Kodori Ridge, where 15 U.N. military observers were told to evacuate.
• After the GMT 4:00 8 August UN Security Council meeting, Boris Malakhov, spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that he hoped it was still possible to prevent "mass bloodshed", adding, "It now became clear why the Georgian side was refraining under various pretexts from signing a legally binding document on non-use of force"
• Russian envoy Yuri Popov said Georgia's military operation showed it could not be trusted and NATO should reconsider its plans to grant membership to Georgia. Popov said, "Georgia's step is absolutely incomprehensible and shows that the Georgian leadership has zero credit of trust." He called Georgia's behavior treacherous.
• In a letter to all NATO members, Ambassador of Russia to NATO Dmitry Rogozin stated that Georgia had "got a permit to start a military operation" after the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest and warned against continued support of Georgia and its president.
• In North Ossetia's Vladikavkaz there were several demonstrations rallied by local Ossetians, with protesters shouting "Russia, save us!" and demanding the withdrawal of Georgian forces from South Ossetia.
• Chairman of Russia's State Duma Security Committee, Vladimir Vasiliyev, stated, "Georgia could have used the years of Saakashvili's presidency in different ways - to build up the economy, to develop the infrastructure, to solve social issues both in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the whole state. Instead, the Georgian leadership with president Saakashvili undertook consistent steps to increase its military budget from US$30 million to $1 billion - Georgia was preparing for a military action."
• On 10 August 2008 Russian human rights commissioner (ombudsman) Vladimir Lukin called for creating International Tribunal on South Ossetia. "That man who order night attack on Tskhinvali is the main responsible person," he said.
• Vice Chairman of Russian parliament Vladimir Zhirinovsky in his speech on Echo Moskvy radio suggested bombing Tbilisi and bringing Saakashvili to trial, overthrowing his "fascist regime", as well as breaking all diplomatic and economic links with Georgia.
• [other reactions from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and deputy Foreign Minister incorporated into initial paragraphs]
• Russia also laid much of the responsibility for ending the fighting on the United States, which has trained Georgian troops. Moscow ignored the Bush administration’s statement about “significant long-term impact on the U.S.-Russia relations”. Washington has not condemned Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia . Israel, France, the Ukraine, and other countries have also trained Georgian forces in the past.
• Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin accused foreign media of pro-Georgian bias in their coverage of the ongoing conflict between Georgia and Russia over breakaway South Ossetia. "We want television screens in the West to be showing not only Russian tanks, and texts saying Russia is at war in South Ossetia and with Georgia, but also to be showing the suffering of the Ossetian people, the murdered elderly people and children, the destroyed towns of South Ossetia, and [regional capital] Tskhinvali. This would be an objective way of presenting the material," Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said. Current Western media coverage of the events in the separatist republic is "a politically motivated version, to put it mildly," he said.

South Ossetia

• On 8 August, South Ossetia called on "the governments and peoples of the world" to recognize its independence: "For South Ossetia, there is only one path of life - the acceptance of its independence by the international community. We call on all self-respecting people of the planet to not be indifferent to the fate of the Ossetian nation."

International reactions

Main article: International reaction to the 2008 South Ossetia War

Opposing forces

T-72 tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles in a German museum. Both types are being used by Russia during the 2008 South Ossetia War. Georgia also has 82 T-72s.

See also: Military of Georgia and Military of Russia

Georgian, Russian and South Ossetian forces are equipped with predominantly Soviet-made weapons, in particular, Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft, T-55 and T-72 tanks, and AK-74 rifles; however, Georgia has recently also been acquiring some western-made weaponry, including the UH-1 Iroquois helicopters and M16 rifles from the United States, 152mm SpGH DANA self-propelled guns and RM-70 Multiple rocket launchers from the Czech Republic, Turkish Otokar Cobra armoured vehicles, and German Heckler & Koch G36 and Israeli IMI Tavor TAR-21 rifles.

Russian order of battle

Members of the Russian Army during a mission in Bosnia in 1996 after the Bosnian War.

• North Caucasus Military District
  • 58th Army
  • 4th Air Army
• Leningrad Military District
  • 76th Airborne Division (Pskov)
• Moscow Military District
  • 98th Airborne Division (Ivanovo)
  • Spetsnaz of 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment (Moscow)
• Black Sea Fleet

• Russian news services, notably RTR Planeta, have reported wide-scoped assembly of Ossetian Narodnoe Opolcheniye being joined by volunteers from the Vladikavkaz (Russian: Владикавказ) region and other parts of Russia. The groups being formed at "various locations" are reported to range from "tens" to "hundreds". The members of these groups as shown on video reports are identified by white armbands, but appear to be otherwise clothed and equipped predominantly in Russian Army issue camouflage clothing and firearms. One such group in the Northern Ossetia has been formed on the Staff of North Ossetia okrug Cossack Voisko (Russian: штаб североосетинского округа казачьего войска) One such group of some 200 mounted on 20 Gaz trucks was reported to have entered South Ossetia from North Ossetia on the 9-10 August.

Georgian order of battle

Members of the Georgian Army training to expel the anti-Russian Chechen rebels from Georgian territory in 2002 after the Second Chechen War.

In the combat for Tskhinvali Georgia reportedly had committed several infantry battalions supported by some T-72 tanks and artillery. Much greater numbers are deployed elsewhere around the Georgian-South Ossetian borders. Georgian government had called back at least 1,000 troops from Iraq and reservists are gathering. Georgia has 82 T-72 tanks.

Russian sources claim that among the Georgian soldiers killed during the the assault on Tskhinvali, Russian forces found the corpses of black soldiers. They allege that these individuals were mercenaries or foreign instructors. They previously reported that American military instructors are stationed at a large Georgian military installation in Gori. The American source Washington Post noted the U.S. has about 130 military personnel in Georgia who train Georgian troops for deployment to Iraq and for defense of Georgia. Prior to the war, Israel had sold approximately $400 million in training and weaponry to Georgian forces. Russia had threatened to cut its ties with Israel, while Israel claimed that the training was "defensive".

References

Note: One can use Google Translate to verify Russian and other non-English sources.

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
• The Path to War (GlobalSecurity.org)
• Timeline: Georgia-Ossetia armed conflict (Russia Today)
• Comparison of force strength (Reuters)
• NewsGeorgia Google Translation from the Russian version of News-Georgia.
• AdjaraTV (English)
• The State Committee of Information and Press of the Republic of South Ossetia (English version)
• Template:Ru icon Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
• Template:Ru icon Template:En icon Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
• Georgian Ministry of Defence (site may be down due to cyber attack)
• The Messenger, English language newspaper in Tbilisi
• Military News Agency by Interfax
• Russia, Georgia Hold Military Exercises amidst Tensions (Moscow News)

Videos

• BBC World News Youtube Channel
• Russia Today Youtube Channel
• A journey to South Ossetia, a documentary about life in South Ossetia, made in 2007 (before the war)
• Russian convoy moving towards Tskhinvali, 06:20
• Destruction in Tskhinvali, 01:36
• Casualties in Tskhinvali, 05:17
• Damaged hospital building in Tskhinvali, 02:17

Map resources

• topographic maps of the region from Poyechali