In August it will be two years since Georgia attacked South Ossetia. Tensions in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone markedly deteriorated during the evening of August 1. Georgian troops subjected Tskhinvali and a number of other inhabited areas to massive shelling, causing the first losses and considerable destruction.
In August it will be two years since Georgia attacked South Ossetia. Tensions in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone markedly deteriorated during the evening of August 1. Georgian troops subjected Tskhinvali and a number of other inhabited areas to massive shelling, causing the first losses and considerable destruction. Photo: August 13, 2008. Tskhinvali after an attack of Georgian troops.
According to the Defense Ministry, 18 Russian servicemen, including one officer and 17 sergeants and soldiers lost their lives during the conflict. Photo: members of The Young Guards, the Eurasian Union of Young People, the Young Russia and the Communist Party picketing the Georgian Embassy in Moscow to draw public attention to Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry declared that the threat of a wide scale military conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia was becoming increasingly real. On August 3 Georgia continued deploying troops to its border with South Ossetia. Photo: Georgian troops in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone.
Georgia launched its offensive against South Ossetia at 10.35 p.m. on August 7. Military clashes, grenade launcher fire and mortar shelling started at 11.15 p.m. Volleys of mortar fire began at 11.45 p.m. In the morning Georgian aviation bombed South Ossetia, attacking a humanitarian relief column from North Ossetia. Photo: August 11, 2008. The aftermath of the attack on Tskhinvali.
To avert a direct threat to the lives of Russian citizens in South Ossetia and in line with its right to self-defense, in the second half of August 8 Russia sent additional forces to support Russian peacekeepers and protect civilians. Photo: August 10, 2008. Russian military hardware moving into the conflict zone.
On August 9, additional troops from the 58th army and airborne units were deployed to the conflict zone. Photo: August 11, 2008. Military hardware in Tskhinvali under attack from the Georgian troops.
On August 9, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and leader of North Ossetia Taimuraz Mamsurov discussed how to assist South Ossetia given what was transpiring in the republic.
On August 10, the Georgian Foreign Ministry submitted a note to the Russian Embassy saying that the Georgian president had ordered his troops to halt their military actions and fire from 5 a.m. on August 10. During a meeting with Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov on August 11, President Dmitry Medvedev announced that Russia had largely completed its operation on coercing Georgia to peace in South Ossetia. Photo: Russian military hardware moving into the conflict zone.
France proposed a plan for settling the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict. Its main provisions included a ceasefire, medical aid for the wounded and the withdrawal of the Georgian and Russian troops from the conflict zone. Photo: August 9, 2008. An induction center where volunteers can sign up for the people’s volunteer corps. People voluntarily choose to head to South Ossetia, which had come under attack by Georgian troops.
On August 14 the leaders of the unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia signed up to the principles of the settlement. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili signed the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan on August 15. Medvedev signed this plan on August 16. Russia recognized the independence of both republics on August 26. Photo: Sukhumi residents celebrating Russia’s decision to recognize Abkhazian independence.
