TBILISI, Georgia (AP) _ Government troops launched a major military offensive Friday to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia with fighting raging on the outskirts of the separatist capital, officials and news reports said.
The separatist officials in South Ossetia said that 15 civilians had been killed in fighting overnight after Georgia attacked with aircraft, armor and heavy artillery. Georgian troops fired missiles at the regional capital, Tskhinvali, an official said, and many buildings were on fire.
The fighting in South Ossetia raised fears of an all-out war that could draw in Russia, which has peacekeepers in the region and has developed close ties with South Ossetia's separatist leadership.
Gen. Mamuka Kurashvili, a Georgian military officer in charge of operations in the region, said on Rustavi 2 television that the Georgian forces moved to «establish a constitutional order in the region.»
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili long has pledged to restore Tbilisi's rule over South Ossetia and another breakaway province, Abkhazia. Both regions have run their own affairs without international recognition since splitting from Georgia in the early 1990s and built up ties with Moscow. Most residents of the province have Russian passports.
The leader of Russia's province of North Ossetia rushed to Tskhinvali. «We are jointly organizing defense here,» Teimuraz Mamsurov said in the city, according to the Interfax news agency.
Mamsurov said hundreds of volunteers from North Ossetia were streaming across the border into South Ossetia, Interfax said. It also quoted the separatist leader of Abkhazia as saying that some 1,000 volunteers from his region were heading to South Ossetia.
Georgian units had almost surrounded Tskhinvali, the rebel capital, and had taken five villages in the separatist-held region, Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Temur Yakobashvili told a Tbilisi television station. He said that Georgia hopes to regain control over the entire region soon.
The Russian Interfax news agency and Georgian Rustavi 2 television said that the Georgian forces reached the outskirts of the city.
If Georgian claims of seizing ground are true, the assault would mark a major expansion of the government's foothold in the breakaway region. Yakobashvili said Georgian officials were doing everything they could to avoid casualties and the destruction of property.
But Boris Chochiyev, a minister in the South Ossetian government, said that Georgian troops shelled the center of Tskhinvali with truck-launched missiles.
Chochiyev asked the Russian government to defend South Ossetians, most of whom hold Russian passports, from what he called aggression.
The Russian government blamed Georgia for the fighting, and called on Tbilisi to commit itself to peaceful resolution of the conflict.
«The Georgian leadership should come to their senses and return to civilized ways of resolving difficult issues,» Russian Foreign Ministry Boris Malakhov said Friday.
Yakobashvili said Friday Georgia was ready to negotiate, but claimed the South Ossetian officials were dragging their feet in starting talks.
At the request of Russia, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session in New York but failed to reach consensus early Friday on a Russian-drafted statement. The statement proposed that the council express «serious concern at the escalation of violence» and called on all sides «to cease bloodshed without delay and to renounce the use of force.»
The Georgian attack came just hours after Saakashvili announced a unilateral cease-fire in a television broadcast late Thursday in which he also urged South Ossetian separatist leaders to enter talks on resolving the conflict.
Georgian officials later blamed South Ossetian separatists for thwarting the cease-fire by shelling Georgian villages in the area.
The fighting was the worst outburst of hostilities in the region since it won a de-facto independence in a war that ended in 1992.
Russia has soldiers in South Ossetia as peacekeeping forces, but Georgia alleges they back the separatists. Russia also was criticized by the West as provoking tensions by sending warplanes over South Ossetia last month.
Most of South Ossetia, which is roughly 1.5 times the size of Luxembourg, has been under the control of an internationally unrecognized separatist government since 1992. Georgian forces hold several swaths of it.
Russia also has close ties with a separatist regime in Abkhazia, another Georgian breakaway province. An open war in either region could prompt Russia to send in more forces under the claim of protecting its citizens.
Relations between Georgia and Russia worsened notably this year as Georgia pushed to join NATO and Russia dispatched additional peacekeeper forces to Abkhazia.
Last word on the radio is that several Russian peacekeepers were killed when Georgian artillery shelled their base in the capital. Georgia is now accusing Russia of launching a "large-scale military operation", and Russia says it will protect its "compatriots" in South Ossetia.
Now it may be just me, but that sounds like war talk.
I just found out that a flight of three Su-24s dropped bombs on Georgia's territorry.
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. - NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11
Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.
MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
Georgia says its troops have surrounded the capital of separatist South Ossetia as Russia warns further aggression would lead to retaliation from Moscow.
Fighting around Tskhinvali resumed overnight, breaking a ceasefire deal, and bombardments are continuing.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakasvili has called on reservists to sign up for duty and accused Russia of sending fighter jets to bomb Georgian towns.
At least 15 civilians are said to have died as well as several Russian troops.
Residents of Tskhinvali are reported to be sheltering in basements as massive explosions rock the city. Both sides blame each other for breaking the ceasefire.
A spokesman for the Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia told Interfax news agency that Georgian shells directly hit barracks in Tskhinvali, killing several peacekeepers.
Russian fighters
Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said Georgia had simply run out of patience with attacks by separatist militias in recent days and had had to move in to restore peace in South Ossetia.
Georgia accuses Russia of arming the separatists who have been trying to break away since the civil war in the 1990s. Moscow denies the claim.
Russia called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to respond to the crisis, but members failed to agree on a Russian statement calling on both sides to renounce the use of force.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has convened his national security council and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised a response to what he called Georgian aggression.
The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says Russia has always said it supports the territorial integrity of Georgia but has also said it would defend its citizens. Many South Ossetians hold Russian passports.
Hundreds of fighters from Russia and Georgia's other breakaway region of Abkhazia are reportedly heading to aid the separatist troops.
Mr Saakashvili's claims of Russian jets bombarding Georgian targets have not been independently confirmed.
Georgia says its aim is to finish "a criminal regime" and restore order.
Georgia's Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze told reporters on Friday the military operations would continue until there was "a durable peace".
"As soon as a durable peace takes hold we need to move forward with dialogue and peaceful negotiations," he told reporters.
Appeal for talks
South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity told Interfax news agency his forces were still in control of the city, but Georgia claims to have Tskhinvali surrounded.
The Russian envoy to the UN, Vitaliy Churkin, described Georgia's actions as "treacherous".
"The situation in the conflict zone has reached a dramatic line," he told the emergency session, according to Russian Vesti TV news.
"Civilians, old people and children are under massive artillery shelling from Grad rocket systems, guns and large-calibre mortars."
Despite failing to agree a text, many council members did call on the parties to pull back.
China, where the Olympic Games opens on Friday, called for worldwide truce during the sporting event.
A White House spokesman said "all sides should bring an immediate end to the violence and engage in direct talks to resolve this matter peacefully".
Interfax wrote: MOSCOW. Aug 8 (Interfax) - North Ossetia's President Taimuraz
Mamsurov has confirmed that Georgian warplanes have bombed out a
humanitarian aid convoy moving from Vladikavkaz to South Ossetia.
"I can confirm from right here, that the convoy has been bombed
out. I cant's say anything about injuries or fatalities, but those were
Georgian Su-25's," Mamsurov told Interfax by phone on Friday.
"I am safe. The convoy has stopped," he said.
The outcome of this might prove interesting. The Georgian President being a moron is not unprecedented, but whether the West might actually back him is an interesting question.
Though personally, I doubt anyone would dare back Georgia too openly.
STGOD: Byzantine Empire Your spirit, diseased as it is, refuses to allow you to give up, no matter what threats you face... and whatever wreckage you leave behind you.
Kreia
I don't think the West is willing to start a war with Russia over a craphole like Ossetia.
Of course, I have to wonder what Georgia is trying to accomplish. The only way they can actually win this is if a superpower outright supported them, and none will. Russia can easily bomb Georgia into the stone age if it irritates The Bear enough.
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. - NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11
Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.
MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
This can also have much wider repercussions than, say, the defeat of Georgia and their humiliation. If a peaceful solution is not found and Russia militarily attacks and defeats Georgia, many of Russia's smaller neighbors might become extremely paranoid and start investing in military like they'd be expecting another World War Two (Estonia, for example, might feel that way).
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti; beatae Mariae semper Virgini; beato Michaeli Archangelo; sanctis Apostolis, omnibus sanctis... Tibit Pater, quia peccavi nimis, cogitatione, verbo et opere, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa! Kyrie Eleison!
The Imperial Senate (defunct) * Knights Astrum Clades * The Mess
Tiriol wrote:This can also have much wider repercussions than, say, the defeat of Georgia and their humiliation. If a peaceful solution is not found and Russia militarily attacks and defeats Georgia, many of Russia's smaller neighbors might become extremely paranoid and start investing in military like they'd be expecting another World War Two (Estonia, for example, might feel that way).
How much can they really invest, beyond receiving US aid? If they receive aid from US, the Russians will be even more annoyed, than they are with the ABM radars being contructed.
STGOD: Byzantine Empire Your spirit, diseased as it is, refuses to allow you to give up, no matter what threats you face... and whatever wreckage you leave behind you.
Kreia
This is a few days old, but apparently Abkhazia has threatened to invade Georgia if they actually attack Tskhinvali. I'm not sure how much that matters on it's own, but it's sure to escalate the level of Russian involvement further.
Tiriol wrote:This can also have much wider repercussions than, say, the defeat of Georgia and their humiliation. If a peaceful solution is not found and Russia militarily attacks and defeats Georgia, many of Russia's smaller neighbors might become extremely paranoid and start investing in military like they'd be expecting another World War Two (Estonia, for example, might feel that way).
How much can they really invest, beyond receiving US aid? If they receive aid from US, the Russians will be even more annoyed, than they are with the ABM radars being contructed.
Well, they CAN invest quite a lot, provided they are ready to move towards Soviet-style rationing. But I'm sure you can appreciate the Russia's neighbors situation: if Russia attacks Georgia and the world does nothing, it doesn't matter who was right and who wrong. All what matters is that Russia invaded it's smaller neighbor without any repercussions and it will scare everyone on Russia's border. NATO will receive a huge popularity boost in certain segments of those societies and russophobia will become more widespread, which in turn can lead to more "Georgian" incidents.
I believe that Estonia especially is prone to such anxiety, especially after the Red Soldier statue fiasco; and even Finland might/would become more agitated, especially with the more or less common air space violations by Russian airplanes and the wood tariffs that are now in the political spotlight.
It is all a great wheel of fortune with a preposition "mis-" added to the fray.
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti; beatae Mariae semper Virgini; beato Michaeli Archangelo; sanctis Apostolis, omnibus sanctis... Tibit Pater, quia peccavi nimis, cogitatione, verbo et opere, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa! Kyrie Eleison!
The Imperial Senate (defunct) * Knights Astrum Clades * The Mess
The Georgians are being fucking idiots. The VVS is probably moving into open war footing as we speak, and they can use the excuse to utterly destroy Georgia's economy. As it is, they won't be able to take over South Ossetia if Russia gets fully involved, and they very likely will.
All it'd take is a few regiments of Su-24Ms and Su-27s or MiG-29s to secure the airspace over the whole country.
Vympel wrote:The Georgians are being fucking idiots. The VVS is probably moving into open war footing as we speak, and they can use the excuse to utterly destroy Georgia's economy. As it is, they won't be able to take over South Ossetia if Russia gets fully involved, and they very likely will.
All it'd take is a few regiments of Su-24Ms and Su-27s or MiG-29s to secure the airspace over the whole country.
See that's the problem with thinking that the interests of a country and the interests of the people that run the country will always coincide.
The theory I've heard is that this is a ploy by the Georgian government to solidify its rule by uniting the nation against a common enemy. If so these actions may be bad for Georgia, but very good for the Georgian government. Play their cards right and they can stay in power even if they lose. Of course if this is a political ploy they'll probably back down after Russia has scared the shit out of the common Georgian, but before things get too out of hand.
Reuters just reported that Georgian president Saakashvili says Georgia has shot down two Russian warplanes over Georgian territory. Saakashvili apparently also claims that 150 Russian tanks and APCs have entered South Ossetia.
hongi wrote:Why do I have the sinking feeling that shit is going to hit the fan?
It may already have.
AFP reports that "Georgia's National Security Council has warned that Moscow and Tbilisi will be in "a state of war" if reports of Russian tanks, military trucks and troops entering South Ossetia prove true."
But according to Associated Press Russian television has reported that a convoy of Russian tanks is rolling into South Ossetia as we speak. And Reuters says that Russian jets have began bombing a Georgian airbase Vaziani outside the Georgian capital city Tblisi.
Is anyone watching the interview with the Georgian President on CNN? Roughly paraphrased: "They're attacking us because we want freedom, democracy, a free-market economy and a society free of corruption". He was also comparing Georgia to Finland in 1939 and Afghanistan in 1979. And the Georgians are going to withdraw the brigade in Iraq.
"They're attacking us because we want freedom, democracy, a free-market economy and a society free of corruption"
He's fishing for Western support? Those are the in-vogue buzzwords.
Why do I have the sinking feeling that shit is going to hit the fan?
It has. I'm not very familiar with the region, but somehow it seems like a bad idea to bomb people who hold Russian passports, kill Russian soldiers and then not back down.
Bounty wrote:He's fishing for Western support? Those are the in-vogue buzzwords.
That's probably it, although it also strikes me as a very bad idea on the part of Saakashvili, considering Russia can just stonewall any attempt by the Security Council to condemn them for doing to Georgia whatever it is they want to.
And does he honestly expect anyone to believe that Russia is attacking them because Georgia wants "a society free of corruption"? As opposed to shooting the crap out of Russian peacekeepers? Sheesh.
Yes, because Russia is comitted to opression, a communist economy and spreading corruption in society
This thing had to blow up, with both sides being complete dicks about Ossetia. Seriously, game authors saw it coming.
I just hope no western country does anything retarded, and it's going to suck for Georgian civilians for a long while
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. - NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11
Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.
MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
"They're attacking us because we want freedom, democracy, a free-market economy and a society free of corruption"
He's fishing for Western support? Those are the in-vogue buzzwords.
Oh the irony, but Georgia a beacon of democracy and free of corruption? That has got to tickle.
STGOD: Byzantine Empire Your spirit, diseased as it is, refuses to allow you to give up, no matter what threats you face... and whatever wreckage you leave behind you.
Kreia
"They're attacking us because we want freedom, democracy, a free-market economy and a society free of corruption"
He's fishing for Western support? Those are the in-vogue buzzwords.
Why do I have the sinking feeling that shit is going to hit the fan?
It has. I'm not very familiar with the region, but somehow it seems like a bad idea to bomb people who hold Russian passports, kill Russian soldiers and then not back down.
It was a retarded interview. Calling it an "interview" is too generous. They let him get up on a soap box and rant for at least 10 minutes, if not more. And then the CNN interviewer asks him something along the lines of "What would you say to George Bush or any of his people watching this", and the Georgian president replies that they mobilized a couple brigades of troops, and that the Georgians in Iraq would be pulled out (I might be mistaken, but I do remember quite clearly him saying something that would get Bush's attention/score points with him).
Aaaand Russia has entered the buzzword game: Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says he is "receiving reports of ethnic cleansing in villages of South Ossetia" according to Reuters...
I know that I'm going to rub this whole clusterfuck in the faces of some people I know who went "yes lets admit Georgia into NATO ASAP!" when Saakashvili began pushing for that a few months ago. He's evidently hoping the West will roll in and pull his ass out of the fire.
BBC wrote:Russia says it is sending reinforcements to support peacekeepers.
Yeah, sure. Support them in fucking up the Georgians, more like.
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. - NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11
Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.
MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
