Russia moves closer to war with Georgia over South Ossetia
The Georgian army tried to retake the breakaway republic of South Ossetia today, and at least 10 Russian peacekeeping soldiers were killed. Putin vows retaliation from the sidelines of the Olympics.
MOSCOW — Russian tanks rumbled into the breakaway Georgian republic of South Ossetia today, and volunteer Russian fighters made their way over the border, pushing Moscow closer to a full-blown war against U.S.-backed Georgia over the mountainous sliver of land.
The heavy fighting between Georgian troops and Russia-backed South Ossetian rebels threatened to provide a battleground for long-simmering tensions between Moscow and the West.
Earlier today, Georgia launched a large-scale, predawn military operation meant to seize control over the rebel region, whose de facto autonomy and ties to Russia have long been an irritant to Georgian leaders. Backed by warplanes, Georgian troops waged a hard battle throughout the day for control of the republic's capital, Tskhinvali.
Officials on both sides report civilian deaths, but numbers are sketchy. Each side blamed the other for violating a shaky ceasefire and throwing the republic back into fighting.
At least 10 Russian soldiers were killed in the fighting, Russian officials said. Russian troops have been based as a peacekeeping force for years in South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway republic, Abkhazia, even as tensions between Russia and Georgia climbed.
As news of the fighting reached Russian officials, they vowed retaliation.
"Of course, there will be a response," said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, speaking on the sidelines of the Olympics in Beijing.
"We will not allow the deaths of our compatriots to go unpunished," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in Moscow. "Those guilty will allow due punishment."
Meanwhile, Russian warplanes launched airstrikes on several Georgian towns, according to Georgian witnesses.
Russian news reports referred to the fresh army units headed into South Ossetia from Russia as "reinforcements." South Ossetian leaders told the Interfax news agency that the arrival of new fighters was helping them to recapture control of the capital from Georgian troops.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, issued a statement calling on the international community to "give Russia the message that invading the territory of a sovereign state and bombing its territory is unacceptable in the 21st century."
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordered a full mobilization of all reservists earlier today.
