Battle of Tskhinvali

Overview

The Battle of Tskhinvali was a fight for the city of Tskhinvali, the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia. It was the only major battle in the Russo-Georgian War. Georgian ground troops entered the city on early 8 August 2008. After the three-day fierce fighting with South Ossetian militia and Russian troops, Georgian troops finally withdrew from the city on the evening of 10 August. By 11 August, all Georgian troops had left South Ossetia and Russian forces advanced into undisputed Georgia facing no resistance.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Tskhinvali was the sole major ground engagement of the Russo-Georgian War and determined its military outcome. Georgian forces entered the South Ossetian capital on 8 August 2008 and, after three days of fighting against South Ossetian militia and Russian troops, withdrew on the evening of 10 August. By 11 August, all Georgian forces had left South Ossetia entirely, and Russian columns advanced into undisputed Georgian territory without resistance. The battle effectively ended Georgian military operations in South Ossetia and consolidated Russian and South Ossetian control over the breakaway region, making the subsequent ceasefire negotiations a matter of formalizing facts already established on the ground.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (10)