Russo-Georgian War of 2008

The Russo-Georgian War of 2008 was a conflict that took place between Russia and Georgia in August 2008. The war primarily occurred in the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of which had declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s.

Tensions between Georgia and the separatist regions had been simmering for years, with occasional outbreaks of violence. In August 2008, the situation escalated when Georgia launched a military operation to regain control over South Ossetia, which it considered to be its sovereign territory. The Georgian government claimed that it was responding to provocations and attacks by separatist forces.

Russia, which had supported the separatist regions and had troops stationed in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as peacekeepers, launched a large-scale military intervention in response to Georgia's actions. Russian forces quickly overwhelmed the Georgian military and launched airstrikes against targets in Georgia proper. The conflict also saw fighting in Abkhazia, although the majority of the intense fighting occurred in South Ossetia.

The war lasted for five days before a ceasefire agreement was brokered by France's then-President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was acting as the President of the European Union at the time. The ceasefire called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Russian and Georgian forces to pre-war positions. However, the ceasefire agreement did not resolve the underlying issues, and tensions between Russia and Georgia remained high.

The war resulted in significant casualties and displaced a large number of people. Exact casualty figures vary, but it is estimated that hundreds of people were killed and thousands were displaced from their homes. The conflict also caused substantial damage to infrastructure in the affected regions.

Following the war, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a move that was condemned by Georgia and the international community. The conflict further strained the already tense relationship between Russia and Georgia and had long-lasting implications for regional stability in the Caucasus. Efforts to find a peaceful resolution and reach a comprehensive settlement to the conflict have continued since the war, but a lasting solution remains elusive.