RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 19:44:58.Russia will stop air traffic with Georgia starting at 12 a.m. on August 9, 2008, head of the Russian Transportation Ministry’s press office Timur Khikmatov told RBC today. ![](http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/kylekeeton/coffee.gif")
RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 17:55:29.More than 10 Russian peacekeepers were killed in the shelling of Tskhinvali, South Ossetia’s capital, and some 30 peacekeepers more were injured, head of public relations of Russia’s Ground Troops Colonel Igor Konashenkov.
RBC, 08.08.2008, Tskhinvali 17:47:01.Russian army has entered South Ossetia, RBC’s correspondent reported from Tskhinvali. He pointed out that it was impossible to name the exact number of tanks and other armored vehicles that entered the city, adding that the number was rather significant.
RBC, 08.08.2008, Moscow 15:58:05.At today’s special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the low on deals remained at 23.7755 RUB/USD, while the high on deals spiraled to 24.18 RUB/USD, up RUB 0.40 from the opening. The weighted average dollar exchange rate followed, reaching 23.96 RUB/USD, which is RUB 0.08 above the official exchange rate set by the Bank of Russia for the next three days.
MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti) – Over 1,000 civilians have been killed as the result of an attack by Georgia on the capital of its breakaway republic of South Ossetia, the North Ossetian nationalities minister said Friday.
“According to the South Ossetian information and press committee, the number of fatalities is estimated, according to preliminary information, at over 1,000,” Teimuraz Kasayev said.
North Ossetia is part of Russia.
Georgia launched a major offensive early Friday morning using tanks, combat aircraft, heavy artillery and infantry.
Earlier Colonel Igor Konashenkov, an aide to the commander of the Russian Ground Forces, said about 10 Russian peacekeepers were killed and 30 wounded in the conflict zone.
The Russian Transportation Ministry’s press service said Friday that Moscow would cut air links with Tbilisi.
Georgian military forces have begun retreating from the capital, Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian information and press committee said.
“Using grenade launchers [South] Ossetian local defense forces are destroying Georgian tanks. According to eyewitnesses they [the tanks] are on fire throughout the city,” the committee said in a statement.
The statement also said that most of the city had been devastated by the Georgian military attack, which left the hospital destroyed and the republic’s university on fire.
Hello,
The point of the South Ossetia War is that Georgia has the backing of the USA. The military exercises that USA had in Georgia, several weeks ago is the prelude to this attack. Georgia was told how and when to attack. The fact that it happened on the opening days of the Olympics is a political slap in the Chinese face!
Now Russia must decide what to do. I think, that Russia will be the bad, evil guy no matter what. So Russia needs to ignore the Western world and their biased attitudes, then slap Georgia back to Tbilisi. (My opinion of course!)
Now, the Cossacks from the Voronezh Cossack District of the Great Don Host have begun assembling volunteers to aid South Ossetia, Ataman of the Voronezh Cossack District Nikolay Sapelkin told Interfax on Friday. Sapelkin said that “The Cossacks cannot remain impartial to the fate of a fraternal republic.” He continued, “In the condition of aggression from Georgia, the Don Cossacks of Voronezh Region, who support the course of the South Ossetian authorities toward independence, are prepared to take a stand among the defenders of the republic.”
Then meanwhile Georgia is attacking Russia peacekeeper’s by deliberately firing to destroy peacekeeper’s positions in Tskhinvali, said the command of peacekeeping forces. “Tbilisi attempts to mislead world community, with no aversion to blatant lie,” spokesman of the command specified. The shells were exploding right in the facilities of peacekeepers, including the barracks, confirmed the reporter of Interfax.
Recent History of Conflict: (for general information)
Georgia and its breakaway republic of South Ossetia have always had an uneasy relationship. The current armed conflict has its roots in a dispute that goes back almost one hundred years.
The first major conflict between the sides took place in 1918-1920. It began in a series of uprisings in the Ossetian-inhabited areas of what is now South Ossetia.
The uprisings were against the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, which claimed several thousand lives and left painful memories among the two communities.
During Soviet times the conflict was frozen because of Moscow’s tight control of the area. However, it began to gain momentum in late 1980s, not long before the collapse of the Soviet Union, amid the rising nationalism among both Georgians and Ossetians.
The influential South Ossetian Popular Front was created in 1988. But in the summer of 1990 the Georgian Supreme Council adopted a law barring regional parties.
This was interpreted by Ossetians as a move against the South Ossetian Popular Front and led to Ossetians proclaiming South Ossetia a Soviet Democratic Republic, fully sovereign within the USSR.
Ossetians boycotted subsequent Georgian parliamentary elections and held their own contest in December. The Georgian government headed by Zviad Gamsakhurdia declared this election illegitimate and abolished South Ossetia’s autonomous status altogether in December, 1990.
Violent conflict broke out towards the end of 1991. Many South Ossetian villages were attacked and burned down as well along with Georgian houses and schools in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia.
As a result of the violence, approximately 1,000 people died and about 100,000 ethnic Ossetians fled the territory and moved mostly to North Ossetia, a republic within the Russian Federation.
In 1992, Georgia was forced to accept a ceasefire to avoid a large scale confrontation with Russia. The government of Georgia and South Ossetian separatists reached an agreement to avoid the use of force against one another, and Georgia pledged not to impose sanctions against South Ossetia.
A peacekeeping force of Ossetians, Russians and Georgians was established at the time. And late in 1992 the OSCE set up a mission in Georgia to monitor the peacekeeping operation.
From then, until mid-2004, South Ossetia was generally peaceful.
In June 2004, tensions began to rise as the Georgian authorities strengthened their efforts against smuggling in the region. Hostage takings, shootouts and occasional bombings left dozens dead and wounded.
A ceasefire deal was reached on August 13, but it has been repeatedly violated.
Tensions in the region soared in 2008 and outbreaks of violence became increasingly frequent in the border area.
Georgia said it was an internal affair as the breakaway republic had never been recognized internationally.
The Georgian side repeatedly insisted the conflict could be resolved without outside interference.
However, early on August 8 Georgia launched a massive military offensive to take control of the republic.
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Now Russia must make a decision: Take control of their backyard or let the USA continue to play…….
Kyle & Svet
comments always welcome.
Hello,
Looks like Georgia said one thing then turned around and brutally started a War during a Ceasefire……
Georgian president seeks talks with South Ossetia
But seems he either lied or he has no control over the Military, either way means Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is out of control!
Georgia launches major attack on rebel province despite ceasefire
So we went from ceasefire and we will have these talks to full fledge War as confirmed in a report this morning!
Georgia Launched War on South Ossetia
So Georgia has Lied all along about the whole situation……
Kyle & Svet
comments always welcome.
Hey World: Israel is the one with the firepower…..Hello,
While drink my morning cup of coffee, I was thinking about Israel and how close they are to striking Iran. I have to say: “If Israel attacks Iran, World War III will loom on the horizon like a dark cloud!”
A couple of issues that Israel has with Iran:
1. Israel, itself an undeclared nuclear power, sees an atomic bomb in Iranian hands as a direct threat to its existence.
2. Israel believes Tehran will have enriched enough uranium for a nuclear bomb by next year or 2010 at the latest.
3. “Israel takes (Iranian President) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s statements regarding its destruction seriously. Israel cannot risk another Holocaust,” Mofaz said.
4. Israel has the perception that Washington now prefers diplomacy over confrontation with Tehran.
5. “If Israeli, U.S., or European intelligence gets proof that Iran has succeeded in developing nuclear weapons technology, then Israel will respond in a manner reflecting the existential threat posed by such a weapon,”
Why does the term “Winds of War” seem appropriate to this situation.
Kyle & Svet
comments always welcome.
Having positioned themselves at captured mountain heights, Georgia’s military first shelled Sarabuk-village of Ossetia and the police checkpoint located nearby.
The attack demolished more than 20 percent of houses in Dmenis-village. There are victims but their number isn’t clear yet, South Ossetia’s authorities announced.
More than 20 percent of buildings have been demolished in Dmenis as a result of shooting. The residents have hidden in cellars, and it is impossible to estimate the losses even approximately. Officers have been ordered to adequately respond to Georgian fire,” South Ossetia’s Defense Ministry announced.
Satikar-village and outskirts of South Ossetia’s capital Tskhinvali are being shelled as well.
Armored vehicles, artillery, troops are nearing the region, the Defense Ministry said. The Georgians have amassed dozens of tanks and howitzer weapons in Tskhinvali direction.
Looks like Georgia wants war…. (Link)
Kyle & Svet
comments always welcome.