August 2008: Week on war
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Photo: Reuters
April 1, 2008
The first subdivisions of the Russian 7th Assault Division enter Abkhazia and dig in near the Inguri River.
April 16, 2008
Russia announced that President Vladimir Putin had given special orders to the government, according to which Moscow would establish "special relations" with Abkhazia.
April 21, 2008
Georgia confirms that an Israeli-made Elbit Systems unmanned aircraft had been shot down a day earlier. According to the Georgian authorities, it was hit on the Georgian territory by a Russian Mig-29 fighter jet. The incident was discussed at the UN Security Council meeting.
April 23, 2008
The Russian MFA officially announces developing "Measures on strengthening collective CIS forces for peacekeeping in Abkhazia." A thousand troops accompanied by armored vehicles from the 3rd battalion of the 108th Assault Airborne Division arrive from the Sochi region through the River Psou.
Photo: Reuters
May 31, 2008
400 soldiers from the Russian railroad military troops arrive in Abkhazia. Georgian authorities call Moscow's actions a preparations for a military intervention. The Georgian MFA said that the railroad repairs are conducted by the military only when a military action is being planned.
Photo: Reuters
June 6, 2008
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev meet at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. The sides agreed to discuss all issues bilaterally, without involving a third party.
Photo: Reuters
July 3, 2008
Ossetian militiamen attack the autonomous South Ossetian region's Interim Administration Head Dmitry Sanakoev at 10 a.m. en route in Eredvi-Kheiti. As a result, three Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs employees were seriously wounded.
U.S.-Georgian military exercise Immediate Response are held in Georgia, while the Russian military exercise Caucasus-2008 takes place on the other side of the mountains, each involving various types of armed forces. All together, about 8,000 people take part in the simultaneous exercises.
Ossentian forces fire on the Georgian villages of Nikozi, Ergneti, Eredvi, Prisi, Vana, Tamarasheni, Avnevi and Nuli.
July 23, 2008
A Georgian peacekeepers' block post was shot at at 10 p.m. For the first time in the last four years, weapons were used against the Georgian peacekeepers.
Photo: Reuters
August 1, 2008
A Georgian Interior Ministry vehicle exploded at 8:15 a.m. on Eredvi-Kheiti road. Two high-explosive shells were set off remotely. Six MIA employees were injured.
August 2, 2008
Six civilians and one policeman were wounded by fire from Ossetian forces. The Georgian villages of Zemo Nikozi, Kvemo Nikozi, Nuli, Avnevi, Eredvi and Ergneti were heavily bombarded by 120-caliber trench mortars. Before that, only 85-caliber mortars had been used. As a result, the Nikozi and Nuli police stations were completely destroyed; all police checkpoints were damaged.
August 3, 2008
Tskhinvali residents begin evacuation. Specially dispatched buses took about 500 people out of the city. Over 2,000 women and children were evacuated to North Ossetia by August 6. Tskhinvali authorities announced a Caucasus-wide mobilization of volunteers. De facto South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity said repeatedly that the cleansing of Gerogian villages was being preprared.
Photo: Reuters
August 6, 2008
16:00 - Massive artillery fire from the Ossetian-controlled villages of Prinevi, Ubiati and Khetagurovo on the Georgian villages of Nuli and Avnevi.
Artillery is used to shoot at the Georgian villages and police emplacements. Tbilisi was forced to return fire.
An explosion takes place on Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Due to the fire, the flow of oil was temporarily halted. Georgia said that the pipeline was hit by Russian jets.
August 7, 2008
The villages of Ergneti, Ereti, Prisi, Vanati, Avnevi, Nuli, Tamarasheni, Kurta and Saraboka are fired upon, resulting in damage to civilian houses and three Georgian peacekeepers were injured. A Georgian armored vehicle exploded near the village of Avnevi, killing two and injuring five troops.
August 7, 2008, 19:10
The Georgian President orders an unconditional ceasefire and calls on Tskhinvali authorities to join peace talks. The Ossetian armed forces, in response, begin to fire more intensively at the Great Liakhva gorge.
August 8, 2008, 07:00
Emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. The Council refuses to accept Russia's proposal, and condemns the use of force in South Ossetia. Diplomats simply exchange opinions and expressed concern about the tensions excalating in the conflict zone.
15:30
Parts of the Russian 58th army cross over to de facto South Ossetian territory. As the line of Russian tank neared Tskhinvali, the Russian Air Force initiated a bombing campaign against Georgian troops deployed in and around Tskhinvali.
August 8, 2008
In the evening of August 8, Russian troops beat back Georgian weapon emplacements, and the Russian Air Force hits Georgian airbases, destroying several planes. According to information from the Georgian side, the bombing of Marneuli military airport killed 3 people. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announces the withdrawal of Georgian troops from Iraq due to the Russian aggression. Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili appeals to the West to pressure Moscow to stopping its direct military aggression on Georgian territory. British Foreign Ministry calls for an immediate end of military action in South Ossetia. The Red Cross requests a humanitarian corridor be opened to assist people in South Ossetia. NATO General Secretary calls for a ceasefire in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone and urges negotiations. The Georgian president publicly blames Russia for military aggression, and announces a general mobilisation of reserve troops. The UN Security Council refuses to accept Russia's proposal and to condemns the use of force in South Ossetia. The Council expresses concern about the tensions excalating in the conflict zone.
August 8, 2008 18:56
Two tank columns from the Russian 58th Army skirts Tskhinvali along the Dzari bypass road, and opens fire on Georgian positions.
Meanwhile, at the emergency meeeting, the Georgian Parliament unanimously ratifies the president's decree to introduce martial law in the entire country for 15 days in response to actions taken by the de facto government in Sukhumi -- opening a second front. Georgian positions in the Kodori Gorge come under rocket fire from Abkhaz forces.
23:42
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issues a number of statements about the conflict in South Ossetia. The main points: calls for Russia to halt its attack, to respect Georgia's territorial integrity, to withdraw troops from Georgian territory and to immediately halt military action. Furthermore, Rice announced that the U.S. would undertake mediation efforts in South Ossetia together with its European partners.
August 9, 2008
Russian bombers strike targets on Georgian territory, Georgian military posts attacked in Abkhazia.
12:46
The Russian General Staff issues statement saying that Russia is not at war with Georgia.
16:35
Parts of the Russian 58th Army took positions on the entry ways to Tskhinvali. Later on, parts of the 76th Pskov Airborne Division were transferred to South Ossetia.
August 9, 2008, 13:06
The Georgian National Security Council meeting. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili issues a statement on the decision to introduce martial law to Georgia.
19:39
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili offers Russian President Dmitry Medvedev a ceasefire.
The UN Security Council holds another emergency meeting on the Russian-Georgian conflict. It was conducted behind closed doors, representatives of various countries issued statements, but no final decision was reached again. The meeting ended without results, because the sides were unable to agree on the text of the resolution on South Ossetia crisis.
August 10, 2008
After dawn, Russian troops continued with the capture of Tskhinvali and concentrated Russian military units on Georgian region. The 70th and 71st Regiments of the 42nd Motor Infantry Division, the 50th Artillery Regiment, the 417th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion and other military subdivisions were deployed.
14:00
The Georgian army begins a full withdrawal from the de facto territory of South Ossetia and pulls further from the conflict zone. Several subdivisions of the 2nd infantry brigade began stationing in the villages to the south and southeast of Tskhinvali.
August 10, 2008, 17:30
Georgia announces a unilateral ceasefire and completes the withdrawal of its troops from the conflict zone.
August 11, 2008
The Russian troops deploy in Georgia for a full day.
13:18
Russia and Georgia agree to open two humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to evacuate.
13:20
Georgian Parliamentary Speaker David Bakradze declares that Russia was planning to attack the western Georgian town of Zugdidi.
14:40
De facto Abkhaz President Sergey Bagapsh promises to "establish order" in the Zugdidi region.
August 11, 2008, 20:25
Russsian troops capture a Georgian military base in the western town of Senaki.
22:35
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili speaks to the nation saying that there is no threat to the Georgian capital until the following day.
August 12, 2008, 00:21
Russian warplanes strike the Kodori Gorge.
August 11, 2008
Towards the end of the day about 14,000 Russian troops, around 100 tanks, almost 100 artillery equipment pieces, more than 40 multiple rocket launchers, up to 400 infantry fighting vehicles and 200 armoured personnel carriers were stationed on the de facto territory of South Ossetia and the surrounding territories.
August 12, 2008
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announces the so-called Operation to Enforce Peace has come to an end, but gives the order to suppress any resistance when necessary. The Russian army administeres the last blow with a volley from missile launchers. The firing ceased by evening. At the same time the Russian troops landed around the towns of Poti, Zugdidi and Senaki.
In the vicinity of Gori, the Russian troops block the main road connecting the western and eastern Georgia, as well as the military bases around the town.
August 12, 2008
French President, and President of the EU, Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in Moscow to discuss the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
U.S. President George Bush issues an official statement concerning the situation in Georgia. He condemns the actions of Russia, and calls on Moscow to respect Georgia's territorial integrity and to take the steps towards a peaceful conflict resolution.
August 12, 2008, 16:00
Thousands rally for peace in Tbilisi.
16:35
In his statement during the peace rally, Georgian President announced that Georgia is leaving the CIS.
17:33
Georgian President announces the annulment of the peacemaking agreements in Abkhazia and named the regions "the occupied territories."
August 12, 2008
The presidents of Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and the Prime Minister of Latvia arrive iin Tbilisi. Together with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, they take part in the rally supporting the territorial integrity of Georgia, which was held in front of the country's parliament building.
August 13, 2008
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili signs the 6-point ceasefire agreement proposed by Sarkozy.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced that the Russian tanks are surrounding Tbilisi.
U.S. President George Bush orders the Pentagon to proceed with a humanitarian operation in Georgia.
U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice threatens Russia with international isolation.
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