Russo-Georgian War

A five-day armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia and Russia, fought mainly in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russian forces intervened after Georgian troops attacked Tskhinvali; the fighting ended with a French-brokered ceasefire.

Battle of Tskhinvali: The August 2008 fighting for Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. Georgia’s assault on the city preceded Russia’s large-scale military intervention.
Georgian–Ossetian conflict: A long-running conflict between Georgian authorities and Ossetian separatists, centered on South Ossetia. Its unresolved status and recurrent violence formed the immediate background to the 2008 war.
Russian occupation of Georgia: The continued presence of Russian forces in Georgian territory beyond Russia’s recognized borders after the 2008 war. Russian troops remained in South Ossetia and Abkhazia after the ceasefire.
Russian invasion of Georgia: A common description of Russia’s 2008 military intervention in Georgia as an invasion. It emphasizes Russia’s entry into Georgian territory and the scale of its ensuing campaign.
South Ossetia: A region in the South Caucasus that broke from Georgian control and became a Russian-backed separatist territory. It was the war’s principal battlefield and the focus of the initial Georgian assault.
Georgian–Abkhaz conflict: A conflict between Georgia and Abkhaz separatists that led to Abkhazia’s de facto separation in the 1990s. The unresolved conflict drew Russian forces into fighting on a second front in 2008.
International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: The recognition by Russia and a small number of other states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Russia recognized both territories shortly after the war, deepening their separation from Georgia.
Georgian attack on Tskhinvali: The Georgian military assault on Tskhinvali that began the large-scale fighting in August 2008. It highlights the immediate action identified by the EU fact-finding mission as the start of open hostilities.
Abkhazia: A Black Sea region that broke from Georgian control and became a Russian-backed separatist territory. Russian forces opened a second front here, widening the conflict beyond South Ossetia.
Rose Revolution: Georgia’s 2003 popular uprising that removed President Eduard Shevardnadze and brought Mikheil Saakashvili to power. The new government pursued stronger state control and Western alignment, sharpening tensions with Moscow.

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