Russian forces, probably the airborne troops which were deployed to Abkhazia yesterday, have seized the Senaki air base (42°16′8″N 42°4′045″E) 40km away from the Abkhaz border. This military airport with its 2’400m (click on photo for better view) long runway will be able to accommodate any type of Russian fixed and rotary wing aircraft and will enable the Russian forces to establish a convenient forward HQ.
Russia Today reports: 11:24 GMT – Kiev doesn’t plan to provide military aid to Tbilisi – Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister. 10:48 GMT – Georgia’s preventing Russian citizens from leaving ‘totally illegal’ – Medvedev.| 10:44 GMT – Putin blames the U.S. for hampering Russian peace efforts in South Ossetia by airlifting Georgian troops from Iraq to Georgia. 10:38 GMT – Oil giant BP (British Petroleum) denies Georgian reports alleging Russian planes
Thanks to the absolutely fantastic work done by Pavel on his website Aviapedia.com, here is the latest news from the war in South Ossetia and Georgia: Russian VDV (airborne) enters Zudid region, Georgia to prevent Georgia-Abkhazia conflict escalation. Deputy head of the Russian peacekeepers Aleksandr Novitskiy announced Russia doesn’t want situatuin with Russian peacekeepers in Tskhinvali to repeat. USA transport aviation started to transfer 2000 Georgian soldiers from Iraq to
Today, the Russian representative at the UNSC, Vitalii Churkin, made an extremely important, I would even say historical, statement at the UN Security Council. I am (desperately) trying to find the English language transcript of his statement, but for the time being all I can offer is the Russian language video of his statement: UPDATE !: (Note: An *immense* “thank you!’ to qwerty and jtapp for locating this transcript!) Transcript
According to the Interfax news agency (via the website lenta.ru) Russian airborne forces have been airlifted to Abkhazia. They landed on military transport aircraft at the Sukhumi airport. Due to the Georgian blockade of Abkhazia, this is the first time in 15 years that aircraft have landed at the Sukhumi airport. Lenta.ru, quoting Agence France Presse, also reports that the Georgian city of Gori has been bombed by the Russian
RIA Novosti reports: A group of ships from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet including the flagship Moskva guided missile cruiser (click on photo for a better view) arrived on Sunday in the eastern part of the sea near the Georgian border, a high-ranking navy official said. “The purpose of the Black Sea Fleet vessels’ presence in this region is to provide aid to refugees,” the source in the Russian Navy’s headquarters
Following the lead of the New York Times, now it is Stratfor’s turn to finally start deciphering the writing on the wall. Check this out:——- Editor’s Note: The following is an internal Stratfor document produced to provide high-level guidance to our analysts. This document is not a forecast, but rather a series of guidelines for understanding and evaluating events, as well as suggestions on areas for focus. As night falls
By Paul Craig Robert for OpEdNews “Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative.” John Stuart Mill Many years ago, during the 1970s if memory serves, neoconservative Irving Kristol, echoing John Stuart Mill, called his conservative party, the Republican Party, “the stupid party.” Kristol was referring to the Republicans’ inability to compete on the policy front. Jack Kemp
* Russian forces have reportedly entered into Georgia proper threatening the city of Gori. * South Ossetian forces claim to have penetrated into Georgia * The Russian Air Force has bombed the Tbilissi airport for the 2nd time * The Russian Navy has sunk one Georgian attack boat (part of a group of 4 who tried to attack the Russian units) * Abkhaz forces have attacked Georgian units * At
Is the New York Times (and the rest of the US power elites) finally seeing the writing on the wall? Check out this interesting commentary in the NYT: In Georgia Clash, a Lesson on U.S. Need for Russia By HELENE COOPER for the New York Times WASHINGTON — The image of President Bush smiling and chatting with Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia from the stands of the Beijing
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority
Russia Today reports: A crew from Russia’s First TV Channel has been beaten up in the Georgian capital Tbilisi while filming a protest rally at the country’s parliament building. Reporter Maksim Bobrov said the men, wearing camouflage uniforms, “most likely represented some kind of a law enforcement body”. ”We were filming in the city centre at the parliament building where refugees from South Ossetia held their meeting”, he explained. “We
Press TV reports: The White House has orchestrated the current conflict between Russia and Georgia in South Ossetia, a high-ranking Russian official says. In a Friday press conference, Chairman of Russia’s State Duma Security Committee Vladimir Vasilyev said without US aid, Tbilisi would have been unable to start military operation in South Ossetia. Georgian military forces launched a large-scale military offensive against South Ossetia on Thursday evening. Russia, in response,
Ynews reports: Reintegration Minister Yakobashvili says Georgian troops ‘merely regrouping’, not pulling out of South Ossetia. ‘Russians didn’t expect us to fight with such determination and force,’ he adds “We’re changing strategies and tactics, but we will not give up,” Georgian Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili told Ynet Sunday following reports that Russia expanded its bombing blitz against neighboring Georgia while Georgian troops pulled out of the capital of the contested
Russia Today reports: The Russian Navy has confirmed that a section of its Black Sea Fleet is en route to the Georgian coastline. The task force includes a missile cruiser. Military officials insist the operation is to help refugees and is not part of an operation to blockade Georgia. According to a source in the Russia’s defense ministry, three assault ships were earlier sent to the same destination. ‘This is
Russia Today reports: The Russian embassy in Tbilisi has reportedly received a note from the Georgian president saying his country is stopping military action in South Ossetia. Russia’s Interfax news agency reports that Mikhail Saakashvili ordered his army to stop firing on Sunday. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry says Georgia has yet to end hostilities. Russia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed that Georgian troops have withdrawn from South Ossetia after failing
Press TV: Russian bombers target Tbilisi airport Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:08:10 GMT Loud explosions rocked Georgia’s capital early on Sunday, and a senior official said Russia had bombed Tbilisi’s international airport. “Russian jet fighters have dropped three bombs on Tbilisi’s airport,” Shota Utiashvili, the head of the Georgian Interior Ministry’s information department, told Reuters. Reuter’s correspondents working in Tbilisi heard the three loud bangs shortly after 0530 (0130 GMT).
Sorry, no English translation available :-)
Xinhuanet reports: The UN Security Council failed again Saturday in its attempt to agree on a truce call for the parties involved in the bitter fighting in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia. On Saturday afternoon, the 15-member body concluded its third round of an emergency session in the past 48 hours without adopting a statement that would have called for a cease-fire. In a briefing to the council at
