Who is the boss in Tskhinvali

So, units of the Russian 58th Army entered South Ossetia and suppressed Georgian firing points with the help of military equipment. In any case, this is what the Russian Ministry of Defense says, adding that any attempts to attack Russian peacekeepers will be harshly suppressed. It is possible that units of the 76th Airborne Assault Division stationed in Pskov will be transferred to South Ossetia, division commander Alexander Kolpachenko told the Pskov Province newspaper.

To be honest, who is really in control of the situation and where is not entirely clear, because there are conflicting messages from different sides. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs also claimed that Georgian troops completely control Tskhinvali, almost all the Ossetian villages around and the Znaursky district, and that they control part of the city (and part - Russian troops), and that they control the entire perimeter of the capital. Meanwhile, it is reported that civilians of Tskhinvali are emerging from the basements, the city has become quiet, but the city itself is a depressing sight.

Reports later emerged that the shooting had resumed and that Russian peacekeepers were engaged in a fierce battle with Georgian troops on the southern outskirts of the city.

South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity said that more than 1,400 people were killed in the republic. Among the Russian peacekeepers, 12 people were killed and 150 were injured.

South Ossetia appeals to the world to finally recognize its independence.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Russia to stop the attack on Georgia and respect its territorial integrity. Russia must withdraw its troops and immediately cease fire, and the United States and European partners will undertake mediation. This statement was preceded by three telephone conversations with Sergei Lavrov, who, apparently, explained to her that Georgia had violated international law and the Olympic truce, was organizing ethnic cleansing, had been preparing an operation against the Ossetians for a long time, and Russia was just establishing order in South Ossetia. Apparently not convinced.

Meanwhile, the Georgian Foreign Ministry continues to accuse Russia of bombing Georgian bases. It is alleged, in particular, that Russian aircraft destroyed several aircraft at the Marneuli airbase and that four people were killed as a result of the bombing. There were also reports of missile attacks on the port in Poti and the military base in Senak. Saakashvili, in an interview with CNN, stated that Russia is deliberately striking at the Georgian civilian population: in particular, he allegedly personally witnessed (he was nearby) how Russian planes flew over a market in a small town in the center of Georgia, unrelated to the conflict and dropped 500 kg bombs directly on civilians.

Saakashvili has already called on the United States to take part in military operations on the side of Georgia, but the Pentagon said that they had not received any requests for help from Georgia.

From midnight on August 9, Russia will stop air traffic with Georgia. And Georgia suspended the broadcasting of Russian TV channels.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Brise will travel to Georgia to investigate. Both major US presidential candidates spoke out against Russian interference in internal Georgian affairs, and Bush also emphasized his commitment to the integrity of Georgia. McCain, as usual, was especially cruel: “Russia must immediately and without any conditions stop its military operations and withdraw its troops from the territory of sovereign Georgia.”

At 23.00 Moscow time, a new meeting of the UN Security Council convened - this time at the request of Georgia. Let us remind you that on the morning of August 7, the Council already met on the initiative of Russia, but did not decide anything.

Georgia, meanwhile, decided, due to the fact that Russia started a war in South Ossetia, to withdraw part of its peacekeeping brigade from Iraq (a total of 2,000 Georgian soldiers are serving there).

On the evening of August 8, a picket was held in Moscow near the Georgian embassy against military actions in South Ossetia. It was attended by “Young Russia”, “Young Guard”, AKM, who joined them for this occasion, and a number of Ossetian families. (Earlier, Moscow Ossetians held a rally near the Foreign Ministry building.) Let us recall that Georgian Ambassador Erosi Kitsmarishvili was recalled from Russia back in July and is now in Tbilisi.