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2008 South Ossetia War
Part of Ossetian-Georgian conflict
Location of South Ossetia within Georgia (upper left box shows map of Georgia). Striped area shows the territory controlled by Georgia prior to the conflict.
Date August 1, 2008 – present Location Georgia Status Conflict ongoing
Belligerents
South Ossetia Russia Russian peacekeepers 58th Army 4th Air Army Russian volunteers Abkhazian volunteers	Georgia Georgian peacekeepers Military of Georgia
Commanders and leaders
Dmitry Medvedev Marat Kulakhmetov Eduard Kokoity	Mikheil Saakashvili Davit Kezerashvili Zaza Gogava
Strength
Unknown number of regular troops Possibly 3,000 "Hundreds" of volunteers according to Russia 1,000 volunteers according to Abkhazia	Unknown
Casualties and losses
12 soldiers dead and 150 wounded by August 8 Unknown	Up to 30 soldiers and civilians dead by August 8
Unknown number of civilian victims; the South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity claims more than 1,400 killed.

Template:Georgia-Russia

The War in South Ossetia started in August 2008 after days of heavy fighting between Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists. On 7 August, Georgia launched a military operation to take the town of Tskhinvali, the capital of the unrecognized Republic of South Ossetia (a breakaway region of Georgia). On 8 August, Russia responded by moving its troops across the border, reportedly bringing tanks and artillery into Tskhinvali, according to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, to defend its civilians, many of whom hold Russian citizenship. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili now says his country is defending itself from Russian aggression and that Russian forces are bombing its civilian population.

Background

The region, which is one and a half the size of Luxembourg broke away from Georgia in the 1991–1992 war. A peacekeeping force with 500 troops each from Russia, North Ossetia-Alania (part of Russia) and Georgia monitored a 1992 truce. Today, many of the residents of South Ossetia are Russian citizens holding Russian passports: According to BBC, "ore than half of South Ossetia's 70,000 citizens are said to have taken up Moscow's offer of a Russian passport", which in effect means that Russia, after giving the inhabitants of the region its passports, can now justify direct intervention on moral grounds since it has to protect "its own" citizens. In addition, hundreds of volunteers from nearby territories with historical and cultural ties to South Ossetia have poured across the border to help.

Timeline

August 1-August 7: Escalation of hostilities

Beginning late on August 1, 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. Both sides accused the other of commencing the fighting. On August 3, 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.

Sporadic fighting continued throughout the next several days. On August 6, Georgia said it lost an armoured personnel carrier and that three Georgian peacekeepers 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 August 7.

“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 local time. However, by the day's end, Saakashvili ordered a unilateral ceasefire.

August 7-8: Georgian offensive

The ceasefire was broken hours later and 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. 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 the regional capital, Tskhinvali, and that fierce fighting was under way. At 00:53 on August 8, 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. At 04:45, Georgian State Minister for Reintegration, Temuri Yakobashvili announced that Tskhinvali was nearly surrounded, and that Georgia controlled two-thirds of South Ossetia's territory. According to the North Ossetian president 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 August 8, 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.

A half 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, which have however been independently confirmed.

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". Contending 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."

A column of Russian tanks from the 58th Army began moving to Tskhinvali to help support Russian forces in the area. Saakashvili said that the Russian column consisted of 150 tanks, armored personnel carriers, and other equipment. 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.

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 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 will be confirmed, Georgia will declare war on Russia. Russian tanks entered Tskhinvali shortly after, which was confirmed by CNN , and by nightfall, Russian and South Ossentian 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, three of the dead were confirmed to be Georgian soldiers. The bombing of Vaziani was accomplished by fighters taking off from the Russian base in Gumru, Armenia, in violation of a treaty between Georgia and Armenia.

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."

August 9

Georgia banned all Russian TV channels from broadcasting in Georgia, alleging that Russia is conducting an ongoing information war.

Russia cut off all air connections with Georgia.

Russian media reported that heavy gunfire between Russian and Georgian troops was resumed during the night.

The secretary of Georgia's Security Council Kakha Lomaia told Reuters that Saakashvili will declare martial law. He also said, "Russia has bombed the (Black Sea) port of Poti and the military base at Senaki. We think Russia has started to bomb civil and economic infrastructure." It was also reported that an airfield near the Georgian capital, Tblisi, was bombed in the early hours of the day.

Humanitarian impact

International Red Cross urged the combatant sides to make a humanitarian corridor to evacuate the wounded and civilians from Tskhinvali. The main city hospital is reported to be non-functional, and ambulances can't reach the wounded. According to South Ossetia, Georgia continues to bomb the hospital. 22 wounded remain in the building, which has only two stories left. International Red Cross spokeswoman Anna Nelson said it had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were "overflowing" with casualties.

The UN refugee agency said that thousands of refugees are leaving South Ossetia, mostly for North Ossetia. About 140 buses carrying 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 Emergency Ministry has sent a mobile hospital to North Ossetia where thousands of refugees have fled from South 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. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Moscow had reports of "ethnic cleansing" in villages. South Ossetian authorities say Tbilisi's actions amount to genocide against the residents of the republic. Tskhinvali is reported to be laying in ruins, and five villages have been razed to the ground.

Cyberattacks

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

The Georgian National Bank 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 defense ministry was hacked as well. The attack is similar to 2007 cyberattacks on Estonia and carried out by same techniques.

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

Reactions

Russia

•  Russia - 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." 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. 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. (many residents of South Ossetia are in fact Russian citizens) In a letter to all NATO members, Russian Special Envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin stated that Georgia had "got a permit to start a military operation" after the 2008 Bucharest summit 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.

International organizations

•  European Union - On August 9, Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, who current holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, announced with American President George W. Bush that the EU and the USA will send a joint delegation to try and negotiate a cease fire.
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO's official website posted the following statement from the NATO Secretary General: "The NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, is seriously concerned about the events that are taking place in the Georgian region of South Ossetia and said that the Alliance is closely following the situation. The Secretary General calls on all sides for an immediate end of the armed clashes and direct talks between the parties"
• Red Cross International - The International Red Cross urged the combatant sides to make a humanitarian corridor to evacuate the wounded and civilians from Tskhinvali.
•  United Nations - On August 7, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced grave concern over the escalation of violence and urged all parties to the conflict to "refrain from any actions that might jeopardize the situation further and pose threat to stability in the region". On August 8 at GMT 4 a.m. an emergency session of the UN Security Council was held to discuss the situation. The session was requested by Russia. The session failed to reach an agreement that would have called on Georgia and the separatists to immediately halt all fighting, but expressed its concern over the renewed conflict.

States

•  Armenia - The Armenian Foreign Ministry said official Yerevan is closely monitoring the situation and urging the conflicting parties to call a halt to military operations.. “We are certainly concerned about the situation and hope that a solution will be found very quickly,” Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian told RFE/RL. “We hope that the parties will make maximum efforts to quickly stop bloodshed and find peaceful solutions to contentious issues,” he said.
•  Azerbaijan - A spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Khazar Ibrahim, said that the Georgian actions were in accord with international law and that Azerbaijan recognizes the territorial integrity of Georgia.
•  Canada - Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Emerson, released the following statement: "Canada is gravely concerned about the recent violence in South Ossetia, and we deplore the casualties that have resulted. We call for an immediate halt to the hostilities and strongly urge all parties involved to display restraint in words and deeds, and to respect national boundaries. Canada stands ready to work with its partners in the United Nations and in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to support efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict."
•  China - China called for worldwide truce coinciding with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
•  Estonia - The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on August 8th calling for an immediate stop to the hostilities to avoid further casualties, and starting peaceful negotiations. The statement suggests that the basis for these negotiations could be the proposal by the Georgian president to guarantee broad autonomy for South-Ossetia. For a quick solution the European Union and OSCE are expected to respond adequately and international efforts should be closely coordinated. Estonia supports the intermediation proposal by Finland. Estonia is ready, in keeping with its capability, to take part in humanitarian assistance.
•  Finland - Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, also serving as the OSCE chairman-in-office, has been in contact with both Tbilisi and Tskhinvali, urging the parties to stop any military action and to try and restore direct talks instead. He has decided to deploy his Special Envoy immediately to Georgia, and is also himself preparing to travel to the region.
•  France - France has been trying to urge both sides reach a ceasefire.

•  Iceland - The Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir has in a statement from the Ministry called on the belligerents to preserve civilians and demands a quick end to the hostilities with a peaceful solution.
•  Israel - On August 5th, it was reported by Stratfor and Russia Today that Israel planned to halt arms sales to Georgia because of Russian objections.
•  Kazakhstan - Following Vladimir Putin's remarks, the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, said "The Georgian leadership was not right when it failed to inform on its actions toward South Ossetia and about higher tensions taking place there". Interfax also reported that Nazarbayev "agreed with Putin's view that countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States should make an assessment of the situation and undertake efforts to halt it".
•  Latvia - The Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs phoned to Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and stated that Latvia supports territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and stressed that use of military force should be avoided and current situation should be solved in negotiations. He also said that Russia should use its influence in South Ossetia to stop Ossetian provocations and expressed hope that Russia will not get military involved.
•  Lithuania - On August 7th, President of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, received a phone call from the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. Saakashvili asked Lithuania’s president to help inform heads of the European Union and other western states of the situation in the region. Adamkus assured that Lithuania would inform other European partners about the situation in Georgia and would seek adequate attention and assistance from the European Union in dealing with the situation. On August 8, Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Petras Vaitiekūnas was sent to Georgia. He will be there to inform the EU partners about the situation in Georgia. Lithuania is also evacuating about 50 its citizens from conflict region
•  Poland - Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published following statement on its website: "MFA of Poland is very disturbed by the situation in the region of South Ossetia in Georgia. MFA thinks it is unacceptable for foreign military forces to attack Georgian territory. MFA is calling to both sides of conflict to cesase fire and return to negotiations. MFA reminds that it is important to provide safety for international humanitarian organisations, especially OBWE and Red Cross International and safely evacuate civilians from the war zone. MFA is calling states and international organisations to engage in process of solving the conflict in region of South Ossetia in Georgia and to help bring the situation back to normal while respecting Georgian borders".
•  Sweden - Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt said in a statement: "The way in which the situation in South Ossetia has deteriorated is cause for profound concern. It is extremely important that all those involved show restraint and play their part in bringing about a political solution," ... "I am particularly concerned about the impact of the conflict on civilians. Georgia and Russia are dangerously close to war and there is a great risk of this spreading to other parts of the Caucasus." Bildt further stated that the crisis is due to "provocations from the South Ossetian side" and that the Georgian forces are trying to "restore the constitutional order". and that the Russian bombing of Georgia is "very worrying and will demand a forceful reaction from the United Nations and the European Union."
•  Turkey - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that the fighting is a grave concern for Turkey, which neighbors Georgia. Erdoğan has called for an immediate cease-fire and has said that he would call Georgian and Russian leaders to urge restraint if necessary.
•  Ukraine - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called to all sides to stop fire immediately and to start solving the problem by negotiations. Ukraine has confirmed its position of support of Georgian territorial integrity and sovereignty. It was stated that Ukraine is ready to make its contribution to peaceful resolution of the region's conflict within the framework of international diplomatic efforts. Ukranian president Viktor Yushchenko, has sent his special representative Kostyantyn Yelisyeyev to Tbilisi as a result of phone conversation of Georgian President M.Saakashvili. The aims of the visit are consultations with Georgian authorities and representatives of OSCE, investigation of the situation in the region and presenting of the Ukrainian position on peaceful resolution of conflict. The Foreign Ministry also called on Russia to remove its troops from Georgia and pressure the "separatist regime" to negotiations.
•  United Kingdom - The Foreign and Commonwealth Office states on its website 'We are monitoring developments in Georgia following news that there has been heavy fighting between Georgian forces and South Ossetian separatists. We urge an immediate ceasefire in the fighting in South Ossetia and for a resumption of direct dialogue between all parties.'
•  United States - After the GMT 4:00 8 August UN Security Council meeting, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, however, said it appeared that the South Ossetians were the provokers of the violence. Fried said, "We have urged the Russians to urge their South Ossetian friends to pull back and show greater restraint. And we believe that the Russians ... are trying to do just that." White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said on 8 August, "All sides should bring an immediate end to the violence and engage in direct talks to resolve this matter peacefully." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later stated: "We call on Russia to cease attacks on Georgia by aircraft and missiles, respect Georgia's territorial integrity, and withdraw its ground combat forces from Georgian soil."

Unrecognized states and non-state entities

•  Abkhazia - On August 5, Abkhazia's separatist foreign minister, Sergey Shamba, announced that Abkhazia's army may open a second front against Georgia if it launched a full-scale attack against Ossetia.
• Don Cossacks - On August 8 (12:24 UTC), Viktor Vodolatskiy, the ataman of the Don Cossacks Host, said that a "volunteer 429th independent motor rifle regiment" will be created to help the fight in South Ossetia and that 450 people were already signed up. Since then, hundreds or possibly thousands of Cossack volunteers have been streaming across the border.
• North Ossetia - The North Ossetian president, Taimuraz Mamsurov accompanied a convoy to the area and was party to a bombardment, surviving unharmed. Earlier, he told the Interfax news agency that hundreds of armed volunteers from North Ossetia were heading to the area of Tskhinvali.

Military

Georgian, Russian and South Ossetian forces are equipped with predominantly Soviet-made weapons, like 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, Czechoslovakian 152mm SpGH DANA self-propelled guns and RM-70 Multiple rocket launchers, Turkish Otokar Cobra armored vehicles, and German Heckler & Koch G36 and Israeli IMI Tavor TAR-21 rifles.

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79. "Russia Warned NATO against Further Support of Georgia". Kommersant. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
80. Armed Cossacks pour in to fight Georgians - The Guardian
81. La Géorgie et la Russie s'affrontent pour le contrôle de l'Ossétie du Sud. Le Monde. 9 August 2008
82. Statement by the NATO Secretary General on events in South Ossetia . NATO.int. 8 August 200
84. Google News
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86. Совбез ООН отказался осудить Грузию. Lenta.ru. 8 August 2008 Template:Ru icon
87. Armenia Concerned About South Ossetia Fighting
88. http://today.az/news/politics/46850.html
89. No. 173 Statement by Minister Emerson on Violence in Georgia. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. August 8, 2008.
90. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Position on Hostilities in the Region of South Ossetia. Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. 8 August 2008.
91. Foreign Minister Stubb continues diplomatic efforts warranted by the situation in Georgia. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. August 8, 2008.
92. http://www.reuters.com/article/europeCrisis/idUSL844042
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95. Israel blocks arms sales to Georgia. Russia Today. August 5, 2008.
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97. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia: Foreign Ministers of Latvia and Georgia discuss current situation in South Ossetia
98. ^ Press office of President. President Adamkus had a telephone conversation with Georgia’s President. Retrieved on 8 August 2008
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100. http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/article.php?id=17991797
101. Template:Pl icon Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland statement on Georgia, 8th August 2008
102. Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt on the situation in Georgia, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, August 8, 2008.
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105. "Turkey urges cease-fire in South Ossetia". Jerusalem Post. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
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116. "Russia's Armed Forces, CSIS (Page 32)" (PDF). 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Timeline: Georgia-Ossetia armed conflict (Russia Today)
• Comparison of force strength (Reuters)

• Misplaced Pages neutral point of view disputes from August 2008
• Current events
• Articles with unsourced statements from August
• South Ossetia
• Wars involving Georgia (country)
• Wars involving Russia
• Georgia (country)–Russia relations