Russia-Georgia Conflict: News From the War zone

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Chrom

New Member
maybe somebody can explain to me a thing:

I remember that is an tunnel trough mountain to access from Russia to South Ossetia. Why the georgians didnt blow up that tunnel? I figure that this will complicated a lot russian logistic in south ossetian territory
Tunnel is entirely on russian side. It was guarded by russians. Would be very hard to sneak enough forces to drive them off. Only options was terroristic act - apparently they tried it but were catched.
 

eaf-f16

New Member
http://exiledonline.com/photo-essay-russian-army-in-south-ossetia/

Photo essay, with lots of hardware, results of airstrikes, russian soldiers/irregulars ect. Best I've seen yet.

http://exiledonline.com/the-cnn-effect-georgia-schools-russia-in-information-warfare/

another good article on the importance of winning the media war.
Damn, you read the exile too?

Hehe... I actually thought about posting the War Nerd article about it here yesterday but I thought it was too informal. :D

Anyways, Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov just said that that the Western world could "forget about" Georgia's territorial integrity after it's shelling of S.Ossetia.

In other news/propaganda, a Georgian government website and some American officials said that Russian troops appear to be destroying/sabotaging Georgian airfields and military infrastructure in attempt to cripple the already battered Georgian armed forces.

Here is an article from Ynet News (Israeli-based) website about Israel's involvement, its military cooperation with Georgia and its origins, and its attempts to limit the political fallout of it all.

Israel began selling arms to Georgia about seven years ago following an initiative by Georgian citizens who immigrated to Israel and became businesspeople.


"They contacted defense industry officials and arms dealers and told them that Georgia had relatively large budgets and could be interested in purchasing Israeli weapons," says a source involved in arms exports.


The military cooperation between the countries developed swiftly. The fact that Georgia's defense minister, Davit Kezerashvili, is a former Israeli who is fluent in Hebrew contributed to this cooperation.


"His door was always open to the Israelis who came and offered his country arms systems made in Israel," the source said. "Compared to countries in Eastern Europe, the deals in this country were conducted fast, mainly due to the defense minister's personal involvement."


Among the Israelis who took advantage of the opportunity and began doing business in Georgia were former Minister Roni Milo and his brother Shlomo, former director-general of the Military Industries, Brigadier-General (Res.) Gal Hirsch and Major-General (Res.) Yisrael Ziv.


Roni Milo conducted business in Georgia for Elbit Systems and the Military Industries, and with his help Israel's defense industries managed to sell to Georgia remote-piloted vehicles (RPVs), automatic turrets for armored vehicles, antiaircraft systems, communication systems, shells and rockets.


According to Israeli sources, Gal Hirsch gave the Georgian army advice on the establishment of elite units such as [similar too] Sayeret Matkal and on rearmament, and gave various courses in the fields of combat intelligence and fighting in built-up areas.


'Don't anger the Russians'

The Israelis operating in Georgia attempted to convince the Israeli Aerospace Industries to sell various systems to the Georgian air force, but were turned down. The reason for the refusal was "special" relations created between the Aerospace Industries and Russia in terms of improving fighter jets produced in the former USSR and the fear that selling weapons to Georgia would anger the Russians and prompt them to cancel the deals.


Israelis' activity in Georgia and the deals they struck there were all authorized by the Defense Ministry. Israel viewed Georgia as a friendly state to which there is no reason not to sell arms systems similar to those Israel exports to other countries in the world.


As the tension between Russia and Georgia grew, however, increasing voices were heard in Israel – particularly in the Foreign Ministry – calling on the Defense Ministry to be more selective in the approval of the deals with Georgia for fear that they would anger Russia.


"It was clear that too many unmistakable Israeli systems in the possesion of the Georgian army would be like a red cloth in the face of a raging bull as far as Russia is concerned," explained a source in the defense establishment.


For inctance, the Russians viewed the operation of the Elbit System's RPVs as a real provocation.

[...]

Georgian minister: Israel should be proud

"The Israelis should be proud of themselves for the Israeli training and education received by the Georgian soldiers," Georgian Minister Temur Yakobashvili said Saturday.

Yakobashvili is a Jew and is fluent in Hebrew. "We are now in a fight against the great Russia," he said, "and our hope is to receive assistance from the White House, because Georgia cannot survive on its own.
 

eckherl

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
I would like to ask some of you out of respect for the deceased to please stop posting photos of fallen Military and civilians, that goes with all sides who were involved in this conflict.

Thank you
 

merocaine

New Member
Damn, you read the exile too?
eXiled now, unfortunately. Yeah those guys certainly got a unique perspective!

@eckherl

Yeah understand where your coming from, but sometimes I think its a good idea seeing what military hardware actually does to people.
Some of the more war mad among us probably wouldn't be so enthusiastic if they saw the results more often. As an ex service man you don't need any reminding, but that doesn't go for everyone.
I've put a health warning on the link.
 

eckherl

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
eXiled now, unfortunately. Yeah those guys certainly got a unique perspective!

@eckherl

Yeah understand where your coming from, but sometimes I think its a good idea seeing what military hardware actually does to people.
Some of the more war mad among us probably wouldn't be so enthusiastic if they saw the results more often. As an ex service man you don't need any reminding, but that doesn't go for everyone.
I've put a health warning on the link.
Many Thanks.
 

Feanor

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A few more updates from the warzone. Kokoity and Nogovitsuin (the Colonel-General who's been making most of the press statements for Russia) have both confirmed large numbers of mercenaries that fought for Georgia, including a number of blacks. Russia is also evacuating military equipment from bases near Poti and Gori that was left behind by Georgian forces.
 

kato

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Any chance of Russia doing some "goodwill gesture" until say tomorrow afternoon? Such as e.g. withdrawing from Gori.

Background: Medvedev is meeting Merkel in Sochi tomorrow.
 

merocaine

New Member
Kokoity and Nogovitsuin (the Colonel-General who's been making most of the press statements for Russia) have both confirmed large numbers of mercenaries that fought for Georgia, including a number of blacks.
I must say this whole affair has quite a medieval feel to it, mercenaries, irregulars, paramilitary troops, pillaging looting, ethnic cleansing, standing armies, land sea air warfare, speres of infulance, Actually what am I saying, its very 20th centuary! It kind of feels like the 20th centuary in microcosim.

When you say blacks, do you mean african americans? or africans?
I light the term evactuating...its not like there ever going to give it back:rolleyes:

Is there anyword on material loses on the Georgian side? I wonder if they managed to get most of there gear out.
 

eaf-f16

New Member
The US State Department is reporting that the Russian armed forces have deployed two SS-21 Scarab TELAR's into "Georgian territory".

Here is a quote from US Deputy National Security Adviser Jim Jeffrey:

In terms of how we've responded to this, the President was informed immediately on Friday, when we received news of the first two SS-21 Russian missile launchers into Georgian territory. He immediately -- this was at the Great Hall -- he immediately met with President Putin. They had a discussion. The President then engaged with his national security staff continuously over the last two days. He has spoken with -- again with Putin that evening. He then talked with President Medvedev yesterday evening, as well as President Saakashvili. Secretary Rice has spoken repeatedly with President Saakashvili, as well as with her Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Lavrov, and many European leaders.

Admiral Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is in contact with his Russian counterpart. Ambassador Negroponte, the number two in the State Department, called in the Russian chargé on Friday to lay out our position. We have been in further contact with the Russians today, and we will continue to be in contact. In addition, it is quite possible that the President will speak with President Sarkozy of France, who, of course, has the presidency of the European Union at the moment.
Did anyone else notice how he referred to Vladimir Putin as President instead of Prime Minister...?
 

Feanor

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The Georgians love pushing Russia's buttons. As for withdrawing from Gori, Russia is supposed to hand control over to the Georgian police by August 14th. Earler today Georgian police tried to re-enter the city but were turned back by Russian patrols without any fighting.

And from Tbilisi we have information that Georgian troops have returned to peacetime basing. Russian forces have left the city of Zugdidi, which they entered earlier with Georgia permission, and will soon leave Gori.

Finally in a rare gesture of reason and level headedness heads of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Georgia had a phone conversation in regards to the principles of regulating the conflict brought to Tbilisi by Sarkozi.
 
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Firehorse

Banned Member
Is there anyword on material loses on the Georgian side? I wonder if they managed to get most of there gear out.
So far, the Russians said that
They had easily occupied one of this tiny country’s largest military bases. American machine guns were stacked in rows.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/world/europe/14gori.html?th&emc=th
And, in an apparent swipe at the retreat of the Georgian army, which received supplies from the United States, the Russian general commanding the town, Vyachislav N. Borisov, noted in particular the risk if looters seized what he said were thousands of abandoned, American-made assault rifles at a military base.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/world/europe/14document.html?th&emc=th
Also, Russia says shoots down 3 Georgian drones

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7558619.stm

http://news.yahoo.com/fc/World/Georgia;_ylt=Au6rFkx.eCnYFnEca.aR9mdbbBAF
 

Feanor

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A few more news. Human Rights Watch has said that the actual numbers of wounded civilians in Russian hospitals is 50-60, meaning the numbers dead would be even smaller then that. They said that it's possible that the figure 1500-2000 dead was gotten by counting the volunteers that fought in S. Ossetia as civilian casualties.

Finally Saakashvili made an announcement stating that as part of the humanitarian mission, American forces would control Georgian airports and sea ports, but was quickly overturned by U.S. officials who claimed nothing of the sort would happen.

EDIT: The same HRW reports that Russian casualties are much larger then 74. From the Chechen batallions East and West casualties were around 74 people alone. There were undoubtedly casualties in other units as well.

EDIT2: An interesting article from the Eurasian Monitor. Somewhat pro-western but reflects the situation with CIS member states and their political allegiances in the light of the Georgia-Ossetia conflict.

http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2373316

Hehehe Firehorse, from your article; oh those evil Russians!

Locals, those who remained, told soldiers of their troubles, without much hope of their being resolved. A man wearing a necklace of wooden beads came to town to buy cigarettes and food, but could not make it back to his village, now blocked. A woman in a red housecoat wanted to know when the tanks would be gone and the electricity would come back. A pregnant woman about to have her baby was put in a car to Tbilisi.
EDIT3: And another update. There have been pervasive rumors and even some official announcements about American refusal to participate in the "Активные Усилия" (sorry don't know English name, maybe someone else does) Naval exercises involving Russia, in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.. However no official cancellation has been received by Russia from NATO. The FRUKUS-2008 in which the US refused to participate with Russia seem to be going ahead as scheduled in regards to all the other nations involved. The U.S. risks being left our a minority, when France and the UK are still agreeing to participate.

Journalists heard around 20 explosions and gunfire in Gori today. A Georgian journalist was wounded on the scene, with camera footage of it. Whether the city was handed over as it was supposed to be, or not, remains to be seen

http://www.necn.com/Boston/World/Ge...azed-by-bullet-during-report-/1218734860.html

Medals have been handed out by the Russian side, for the operation in Georgia. Quite possibly this is the first time that our new (since USSR) army can be proud of it's medals.

Cases of looting have been admitted to by Russian officials and Kokoity. Two looters (unspecified whether Russian or Ossetian) were executed. Eduard Kokoity also said that Georgia refugees will not be allowed to return to S. Ossetia. The Georgian villages will be repossessed by S. Ossetian forces to prevent further hostilities. There are also rumors that opposition politicians of Kokoity are being rounded up, beaten, and harassed.

Finally it seems like the new U.N. resolution in regards to Georgia is finally ready.
 
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nevidimka

New Member
Russia continues to mock the Georgian gov as US pet project, meaning a puppet gov, and it certainly seems to be true when Sarkozy when going to negotiate the peace deal with Saakashvilli was surprised with the presence of 3 US advisers for the Georgian president.


At this point its hard to see if whether Saakashvilli was a rash person hard to control as being portrayed by the media now, or was this all set in motion by US.

The ongoing conflict does gives the US extra support in trying to get NATO members to admit Georgia into NATO, this dec which would be the last meeting for Bush.
 

Feanor

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So another update. Russian forces have finished destroying munitions and evacuating weapons from Gori. Saakashvili has signed the peace agreement in regards to regulating the conflict and Medvedev has reportedly also "agreed to sign". Finally the post-peace peacekeeping contingent in S. Ossetia will not include Georgian forces, and will be much larger including tank units, according to Russian officials.
 

KGB

New Member
Quite a lot of destroyed armor in the photos. Does this suggest that Russian tanks' armor is more vulnerable than previously thought?
 
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