SOUTH OSSETIA WAR

Brian Malik

South Ossetia War

Russo-Georgian War Five-Day War Georgia vs. Russia and separatist

governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia

August 7-16 2008

Start of the war

South Ossetian War 1991-1992 Left more than half of South Ossetia under De-Facto

control. De-Facto:

In practice or actuality, but not officially established yet government

Most ethnic Georgian parts of South Ossetia remained under control of Georgia but with Georgian, North Ossetian, and Russian Joint Peacekeeping Force present in the territories.

Similar situation existed in Abkhazia after their war from 1992-1993

This increased tensions a lot by the summer of 2008 Russian decides to defend South Ossetia (August 5 2008)

South Ossetia War

August 7, 2008: At 10:30 p.m. on 7 August, Georgian artillery units

began firing smoke shells into South Ossetia. Georgian forces began a major artillery bombardment

on heights surrounding Tskhinvali and several villages Georgia ended up regaining control in a matter of hours Russia reacted by deploying units of the Russian 58th

Army and Russian Airborne Troops in South Ossetia, and launching airstrikes against Georgian forces in South Ossetia and military and logistical targets in Georgia.

Russia claimed these actions were a necessary humanitarian intervention and peace enforcement.

South Ossetia War

Russian and Ossetian forces battled Georgian forces throughout South Ossetia for four days. The heaviest fighting taking place in Tskhinvali.

August 9, 2008: Russian naval forces blockaded a part of the

Georgian coast and landed marines on the Abkhaz coast.

The Georgian Navy attempted to intervene, but was defeated in a naval skirmish.

After five days of heavy fighting in South Ossetia, the Georgian forces retreated, enabling the Russians to enter uncontested Georgia and occupy the cities of Poti, Gori, Senaki, and Zugdidi.

South Ossetia War

Battle of Tskhinvali: August 8, 2008 By 8 am. on 8 August, Georgian infantry and tanks had

entered Tskhinvali and engaged in a fierce battle with Ossetian militia and the Russian peacekeeping battalion stationed in the city.

Georgia launched a military offensive to capture Tskhinvali. Code name: Operation Clear Field

Georgian troops had captured the Southern Base of the Russian peacekeepers by 11:00 a.m.

At around 12:15 a.m, Georgian tanks and artillery shelled the barracks of the Russian peacekeepers, killing 10 soldiers.

The Georgians continued advancing through the city, and forced Russian and South Ossetian forces back in heavy street fighting.

South Ossetia War

Bombing and occupation of Gori: Russia began bombing Gori at 8:30 a.m on August 8th,

2008 The first Russian air attack hit the village of Shavshvebi,

located in the Gori District. On August 9th Russia bombed a Georgian artillery position

near Gori. Russian air attack targeted an arms depot. The Georgian government reported that 60 civilians were

killed when at least one bomb hit an adjacent apartment building

On August 12, a Russian cluster bomb attack hit the central square of the city, killing several Georgian civilians and Dutch journalist and injuring over 30 people.

South Ossetia War Abkhazian front: August 9th The Russian Air Force bombed a Georgian military base in Senaki,

killing 13 soldiers and wounding another 13 On August 10th Abkhazia declared a full military mobilization to "drive

out the 1,000 Georgian troops" from their remaining stronghold in the Kodori Valley.

Russian forces secured the Georgian controlled Khurcha settlement in Abkhazia on August 10.

On August 11, Russian paratroopers deployed in Abkhazia carried out raids against military bases deep inside Georgian territory, from where Georgia could send reinforcements to its troops in South Ossetia

During a reconnaissance mission, the Russian Air Force shot down two Georgian helicopters at the airbase at Senaki

On August 12, the Abkhazian authorities announced the beginning of a military offensive against Georgian troops in the Kodori Gorge area.

South Ossetia War

Bombing and occupation of Poti: Russian aircraft had attacked the city on August 9,

bombing the Port and a nearby airbase On August 12, Russian troops entered Poti and sank

three Georgian naval vessels moored in the harbor, as well as removing or destroying military equipment

Four days later, Russian forces in Poti took prisoner 22 Georgian troops who had approached the city

From August 13-15 Russian paratroops raided Poti again and again, destroying almost all of the docked ships and boats of the Georgian Navy, and took away a quantity of valuable military equipment.

South Ossetia War

Bombing of Tbilisi: On August 8, the Georgian Interior

Ministry reported that a Russian fighter dropped two bombs on Vaziani Military Base near Tbilisi, killing three soldiers.

Russian fighters also bombed a military airfield near Marneuli, killing four and wounding five.

On August 11, Russia bombed a radar station near Tbilisi.

South Ossetia War

South Ossetia War

Six-point peace plan: On August 10 most international observers began calling for a

peaceful solution to the conflict. The European Union and the United States expressed a

willingness to send a joint delegation to try to negotiate a ceasefire.

Russia, however, ruled out peace talks with Georgia until the latter withdrew from South Ossetia and signed a legally binding pact renouncing the use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

On August 12, Russian President Medvedev said that he had ordered an end to military operations in Georgia.

Georgian President Saakashvili agreed to the text. Russia and Georgia then both signed the plan. On 14 August, South Ossetia President Eduard Kokoity and

Abkhazia President Sergei Bagapsh signed the peace plan as well.

South Ossetia War

South Ossetia War

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUXSZRp0xCc