The war in August 2008. On the eve of invasion ...
The treacherous attack by Georgia on South Ossetia in August 2008 was not a complete surprise to the population and the authorities of the Republic. Since the end of July, after the completion of the joint Georgian-US military exercises "Immediate Response", the tension in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone increased dramatically - became more frequent the Georgian unmanned reconnaissance flights over the territory of South Ossetia, terrorist attacks, shelling Ossetian settlements that led to numerous victims.
July 25 in the south-western outskirts of Tskhinval, near the location of the Russian peacekeeping battalion of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, thundered an explosion. On both sides of the road between Tskhinval and the Georgian border village of Nikozi had been planted radio-controlled explosive devices. They were activated, when a car driven by a 26-year-old Valeri Dzhioev, drove into the blast zone. The car was riddled by debris. Dzhioev died on the spot.
This act of terrorism, since the beginning of the year, was preceded by 12 others ones, implemented by the Georgian special services. The victims of the terrorist campaign waged by them in order to sow panic among the population of the Republic, became 5 people, more than 25 were injured. The terrorists did not hesitate to scatter around the town booby-traps, which killed three civilians.
More frequent provocations, systematic build-up of the Georgian armed forces and military equipment, as well as the number of police posts in the territory of the Republic, which was under control of Georgia, indicated that Tbilisi was seeking a breaking point of aggravation of the situation. Despite attempts made by the peacekeeping forces and the Joint Control Commission for the settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict to avoid an escalation, tensions were growing day by day.
Such a situation caused considerable concern among the population, and in the last days of July, South Ossetian civilians began hastily leaving their homes to escape the impending aggression.