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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 Ossetia Russian Federation Abkhazia	Georgia
Commanders and leaders
Eduard Kokoity Dmitry Medvedev Anatoliy Serdyukov Marat Kulakhmetov Sergey Bagapsh	Mikheil Saakashvili Davit Kezerashvili Zaza Gogava
Strength
1 battalion, possibly 3,000 total[1] 2 battalions, 2,500 other troops[2] Reportedly hundreds of volunteers[3] Unknown number in Kodori Valley, 1,000 volunteers in South Ossetia according to Abkhazia[4]	1 battalion of armed forces[5][6] unknown number of other troops Unknown number of mercenaries[7]
Casualties and losses
Unknown 21 soldiers dead[8] and 150 wounded[9] 2 soldiers captured[10]	300 dead (200 soldiers)[11][12]
As of 9 August, South Ossetian sources claim more than 1,600 killed and 90 wounded, while Russian officials say the death toll now stood at 2,000.
Around 34,000 refugees fled to Russia according to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (out of the population of 70,000).[13][14]

The 2008 South Ossetia War is a military conflict between Georgia, Russia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia that began in August 2008 following several days of heavy fighting between the Georgian army and South Ossetian militias. After agreeing to a ceasefire, on 7 August Georgia launched a surprise military operation to take the unrecognised Republic of South Ossetia (a breakaway region of Georgia), saying that the action is a response to separatist attacks on Georgian villages. South Ossetia denies that these attacks have occurred.^[15][16] On 8 August, Russia, which had troops in South Ossetia, responded by moving its troops across the border, bringing tanks and artillery into South Ossetia.

According to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's intention is to defend the many civilians of South Ossetia who hold Russian citizenship. 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.^[17][18] "The actions of the Georgian powers in South Ossetia are, of course, a crime — first of all against their own people," Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said and opined that the territorial integrity of Georgia has suffered a fatal blow. Medvedev said he was ordering the military prosecutor to document crimes against civilians (by Georgia) in South Ossetia. Russia also laid much of the responsibility for ending the fighting on the United States, which has trained Georgian troops.^[19]

As the conflict escalates and after Russia was drawn into the war, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says his country is now responding to "Russian aggression" and that Russian forces are bombing its civilian population.^[20]

Background

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2008)

Template:Georgia-Russia

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,^[21] 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).^[22] The region, which is one and a half times the area of Luxembourg^[23] (roughly 18% of the total landmass of the state of Georgia) broke away from Georgia in the 1991–1992 war (in which more than 2,000 people are believed to have died^[24]) 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.^[21] 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. 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.^[25]

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.^[26] Additionally, since 2002, the US Army has been providing large amounts of support and training to Georgia.^[27][28] Georgia has planned for huge military costs in 2008, estimated at USD 0.99 billion,^[29][30] more than 4.5% GDP and more than a quarter of all Georgian public income for 2008.^[31]

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."^[18][21] Dmitry Medvedev claims 90% of South Ossetia residents possess them. Russia has argued this justifies intervention to "protect its citizens."^[23]

Timeline

1 August – 7 August: 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.^[32] 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.^[33]

Sporadic fighting continued throughout the next several days. On 6 August, Georgia said it lost an armoured personnel carrier (APC) and that three Georgian soldiers were wounded.^[34][35] 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.^{[36] [37]} The Georgian Interior Ministry reported up to ten Georgian soldiers died in the clashes throughout 7 August.^[38][39]

"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.^[40] 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.^[41]

7 August – 8 August: Georgian involvement

Following Saakashvili’s offer, attacks on Georgian-controlled villages in South Ossetia reportedly intensified. The village of Avnevi was reportedly almost completely destroyed, Tamarasheni and Prisi reportedly shelled, and the police station in Kurta, seat of the Sanakoyev administration, reportedly hit by artillery fire. Civilians began fleeing the villages.^[41] Georgia began an operation into South Ossetia commanded by Mamuka Kurashvili. Kurashvili stated that the purpose of the operation was to restore constitutional order in the region.^[16] This caused an increased number of refugees to cross into Russia.^[43][44] 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.^[16]

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.^[45] As the day progressed, Russian media reported that at least fifteen civilians had been killed in Tskhinvali.^[38] 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.^[46] 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 ^[47].

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.^[42] 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.^[48] Abkhazian leader Sergei Bagapsh said that volunteers from Abkhazia were on the way to help the South Ossetians.^[3] 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.^[49]

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."^[50] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported 1,100 refugees arrived in North Ossetia by bus to escape the violence.^[51]

8 August: 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.^[52] By 09:30, Medvedev convened an emergency session of government officials to consider Russia’s options regarding the conflict.^[53]

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.^[54] The source also reported that the nearby city of Gori suffered a brief Russian air strike, with no casualties.^[55] Russian authorities rejected these reports,^[18] but a Daily Telegraph correspondent later reported that he saw unidentified jets near Gori, and the Georgian military described them as "Russian warplanes".^[56]

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".^[57] 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".^[58] 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.^[59]

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.^[60] 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."^[61]

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 ^[62]; 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.^[63] 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.^[18][64]

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.^[65][66] 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.^[67] Russian tanks entered Tskhinvali shortly after, and by nightfall Russian and South Ossetian forces controlled a large part of the city.^[68]

The Georgian Interior Ministry said that a Russian fighter dropped two bombs on a military base in Vaziani, near Tbilisi.^[69] Russian fighters also bombed a military airfield in Marneuli, near Tbilisi.^[70] At least four people were killed and another five wounded in the air strike in Marneuli,^[71] 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".^[72] 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."^[72]

Saakashvili initially said that Georgia was pulling its 2,000-strong troops from Iraq.^[73] 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."^[74] 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.^[75]

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.^[76]

9 August: escalation

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Russian media reported that heavy gunfire between Russian and Georgian troops was resumed during the night.^[80][81] It was also reported that an airfield near Tbilisi was bombed in the early hours of the day.^[82] Before morning Russian planes bombed the Senaki military base killing 13 Georgian soldiers and wounding another 13.^[83]

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.^[84]Later, this information was officially confirmed by Russian Ministry of Defence.^[85]. However Georgian sources claimed being in control of the S. Ossetian capital throughout the day (quoted by Russian state news agency Interfax)^[86]

At 06:27 UTC Reuters reported that two Russian fighters bombed Georgian artillery near Gori.^[87][88] 60^{[citation needed]} civilians were killed when at least one bomb hit an apartment in Gori.^[89]

At 07:41 UTC Lenta.Ru (via RIA Novosti) reported that the 76th Airborne Division (from Pskov) of Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) 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 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. ^[90] This information was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defence's press service.^[91]

At 07:57 UTC it was reported by the Russian side that the 58th Army had fully freed Tskhinvali of Georgian armed forces.^[92][93]

At 08:30 UTC, the Russian General Staff confirmed that they had lost two jets: a Su-25 and a Tupolev Tu-22M, with Georgia claiming they had actually downed 10 jets and captured 3 pilots.^[77] South Ossetia claimed they had shot down two Georgian jets.^[94] A Georgian official stated that Georgia had shot down a Russian jet fighter and captured its pilot.^[95]

At 10:30 UTC, Russian paratroopers land in South Ossetia.^[96] President Saakashvili calls for ceasefire in his speech.^[97]

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.^[98]

At 11:25 UTC, President Saakashvili asks his country's parliament to announce a "state of war".^[99] 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."^[100] The Georgian "state of war" order is not a formal declaration of war, and stops short of declaring martial law.^[99] 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.^[101] 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. ^[102] At 16:15 the Russian Defense Ministry said it had not received any ceasefire proposal from Georgia.^[103] Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the only solution was for Georgian troops to leave the conflict zone.^[104]

The secretary of Georgia's Security Council, Kakha Lomaia, told Reuters that Saakashvili planned on declaring martial law. Lomaia also reported that Russia had bombed the Black Sea port of Poti and had started to bomb civil and economic infrastructure.^[105] Georgia banned all Russian TV channels from broadcasting in Georgia, alleging that Russia was conducting an ongoing information war.^[106] Meanwhile, Russia cut off all air connections with Georgia.^[107] On the same day, the United Nations once again failed to reach consensus on how to word any request for a cessation of hostilities.^[108] Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that the Russian Federation begins operation "to force the Georgian side to peace". ^{[109] [110]}

According to a source in the Georgian government, the Roki Tunnel used by Russians to bring in supplies and reinforcements has been demolished.^[111] Russian Ministry of Defense denied the report.^[112]

The US embassy in Georgia organised an evacuation convoy to leave for Yerevan on 10 August and a second one scheduled for 11 August and calls American citizens in the region to join them, while it also issued a travel warning.^[113]

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.^[114]

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.^[115] He also promised aid to the region.^[115]

10 August: Georgia retreats from Tskhinvali

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.^[116][117]

The Georgian Interior Ministry claimed that Russia had moved 6000 soldiers into South Ossetia by land and another 4000 into Abkhazia by sea, all preparing to attack at dawn.^[118][119] 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.^[120] 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.^[117]

Putin said the government was ready to earmark up to RUR10.1 billion (approximately $US425 million) for aid to the region. ^[121]

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". ^[122] 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.^[122] 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.^[122]

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the interfering Russian warships are barred from returning to their ports in the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol, as long as the conflict is unresolved.^[123] The warships have later retreated to the Russian port of Novorossiysk.

Conflicting messages reported out of Tbilisi, where Georgia’s Internal Affairs Ministry spokesman, Shota Utiashvili, said "Georgian troops have fully left South Ossetia", while according to Georgian Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili, Georgian troops have pulled out of Tskhinvali and she said "Our forces have relocated and assumed new positions". This claim of relocation rather than withdrawal has been confirmed by Russian peacekeeping spokesman Vladimir Ivanov: "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," he said.^[124] 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."^[125]

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.^[126]

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.^[127] Russia confirmed that their embassy had received a note from Tbilisi about the ceasefire but said that Tbilisi continues hostilities in South Ossetia. A source in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said "the Georgian side has not stopped military actions in South Ossetia, Georgian troops continued shelling." In turn, another source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia also said that statements by the Georgian side on the cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of its forces from South Ossetia are untrue.^[128]

Later in the day, reports suggest that the Tbilisi International Airport was the target of a Russian air strike. The airport was attacked hours before the scheduled arrival of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.^[129]

Humanitarian impact

South Ossetia

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.^[130][131] Tskhinvali's main city hospital is reported to be non-functional, and ambulances cannot reach the wounded, while^[132] according to South Ossetian sources, Georgia continued to bomb the hospital. Twenty-two wounded remained in the building, which has only two storeys left.^[133] International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said it had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were "overflowing" with casualties.^[134] According to local officials, more than 150 people remain trapped under the rubble of the city hospital.^[124]

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that thousands of refugees are leaving South Ossetia, mostly for North Ossetia.^[135] 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.^[136]

The Russian Emergency Ministry 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^[137]

Eduard Kokoity alleged that the death toll has risen to 1,400.^[138] According to Reuters this figure could not be confirmed.^[139] 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.^[140] According to UN between 4,000 and 5,000 people crossed the border into Russia and about 2,400 fled South Ossetia to other parts of Georgia.^[141] 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.^[137][142]

The fighting has interrupted electricity and telephone service in Tskhinvali, and some inhabitants are reportedly sheltering in basements^[143] with no access to water or medicines.^[144] Several journalists on 9 August were reported hiding in the basements, as they appealed to world society for peace corridor to let them out of Tskhinvali. ^[145][146]

Russian Interfax News Agency says Russia sent 120 tons of food to South Ossetia ^[142] and 17 tons of medicine^[147] to prevent humanitarian catastrophe.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised to spend 10 bln rubles ($400 million USD) to reconstruct the infrastructure and facilities in South Ossetia. The sum may increase after a thorough estimation of losses is provided. ^[142][142]

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.^[147] A South Ossetian reservist reported that were episodes when civilians were hiding in basements and Georgian soldiers would come in and gun them down.^[147]

In Georgia

Georgia claimed that 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.^[148][149] 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." Journalists referred to the situation in Gori as "chaotic". ^[150]

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.^[151] The Russian ruble also fell by 1% relative to a basket of currencies.^[152]

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.^[153]

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.^[154] The BTC pipeline was shut down before the conflict and the war created further problems for the operating company.^[155] Georgia claims Russia is targeting the pipeline.^[156]

Cyberattacks

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.^[157]

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.^[158]

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website was also defaced and replaced with a collage of Saakashvili and Adolf Hitler photos.^[159]

Websites of the aforementioned National Bank and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are currently offline. According to the New York Times, Georgian websites had been crashing frequently on 8 August^[160].

The Office of the President of Poland has provided help with access to the Internet for Georgia's government after breakdowns of local servers caused by cyberattacks.^[161]

Georgia blocked Russian television channels across the country^[162] and blocked access to all web sites in Top-level domain .ru. Web sites hosted on domains with addresses ending in .ru are therefore inaccessible from Georgia. Some pro-Russian sites in other zones were also blocked.^[163]

Combatant statements

Georgia

• "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."^[164]
• 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. ^[165]
• Russia has "started a full-scale military invasion" of Georgia, the country's UN Ambassador Irakli Alasania said in New York.^[166]
• "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.^[166]
• 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."^[24]
• Saakashvili accused Russia of a "well-planned invasion" and mobilised Georgia’s military reserves.^[167]
• 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."^[168] He told the BBC: "Our troops are attacked by thousands of troops coming in from Russia."^[169]

Russia

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

• 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.^[170]
• 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"^[171]
• 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.^[172]
• At 07:32 on 8 August, Vladimir Putin, in Beijing attending the 2008 Summer Olympics, condemned the "aggressive actions" by Georgia and said that Russia would be compelled to retaliate.^[173]
• Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, stated: "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.^{[174][175][176][177]}
• 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.^[178]
• 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.^[179]
• 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."^[180]
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Moscow had reports of "ethnic cleansing" in villages.^[181]
• South Ossetian authorities say Tbilisi's actions amount to genocide. Vladamir Putin echoed this, characterizing Georgia's actions as "complete genocide."^[182]
• 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.^[183]
• On 10 August 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.^[184]
• 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. ^[185]

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."^[186]

International reactions

The International reaction to the war covers many nations, NGOs, and non-state actors. In general, Georgia accuses Russia of aggression, Russia accuses Georgia of genocide against Ossetians, US-aligned countries and others call for respect of the territorial integrity of Georgia and immediate peace negotiations, while Russia-sided countries justify Russia or call for peace.

Opposing forces

The orders of battle of the belligerents at the beginning of the conflict (including Russian military forces in the broader North Caucasus region) were as follows:

Georgian, Russian and South Ossetian forces are equipped with predominantly Soviet-made weapons, in particular, Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft,^[189] 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

• North Caucasus Military District
  • 58th Army^[63]
  • 4th Air Army^[1]
• Leningrad Military District
  • 76th Airborne Division (Pskov)^[91]
• Moscow Military District
  • 98th Airborne Division (Ivanovo)^[91]
  • Spetsnaz of 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment (Moscow)^[91]
• Black Sea Fleet (not currently acting, only regrouping at Abkhazian coast)^[190]

Georgian order of battle

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2008)

Georgia has commited 1 battalion of armed forces^[5] and an unknown number of other troops. It is also known that it called back at least 1 000 of its troops from Iraq and that reservists are gathering.

Georgia has 82 T-72 tanks.^[187]

Russia claims that among soldiers killed during Georgian assault on Tshinvali (7.08.2008), there have been found black soldiers ^[191]. Russian source says it is unclear whether they were mercenaries or foreign instructors. It has been previously reported by Russian sources that American military instructors are located in the Georgian largest military base in Gory. ^[192] The Washington Post reported that "the U.S. military has about 130 personnel in Georgia, where they train troops for the force in Iraq and for Georgian defense" ^[193]

See also

• Georgian-Ossetian conflict
• Georgian-Abkhazian conflict
• Russia-Georgia relations

References

Template: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)

Template:USSR-Russia conflicts