Georgia Preparing for War with Unrecognized Republics
25.04.2008 20:42
From the beginning of 2008 operations of Georgian special forces near to the border of the unrecognized Republic of Abkhazia became more active.
The reconnaissance activities of different types were intensified. The flights of reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles over Abkhazia became more frequent. It is confirmed with the dynamics of UAV killing - during the last thirty days the Abkhaz AD systems shot down two drones (March 18 and April 20) versus only one drone in the second semester of 2007.
Georgian peacekeepers on Collective Peacekeeping Force OPs in the Southern Security Zone also conduct reconnaissance.
From the early spring the Georgian troops were engaged in several tactical exercises including in the areas adjacent to the Security Zone. The Artillery Brigade from Gori and artillery battalions of infantry brigades conducted practice firing in the Orpolo firing range. In April attack aircraft Su-25 performed training and reconnaissance flights in the immediate vicinity of the Georgian-Abkhaz administrative border. In so doing, special attention is paid to training the pilots to navigate in low visibility conditions (including at night) over the mountainous terrain and settlements. Israel and Ukrainian instructors are involved in the training.
Currently Georgia is actively forming the task forces in the Zugdidi District of Georgia and upper Kodori Valley. The total strength of the forces is about 5,000.
Personnel, military equipment, weapons and ammunitions are delivered to these areas by air (from AF Base Senaki) and by road via passage Kalamri-Suki to bypass CIS peacekeepers’ OPs. These actions are performed in direct violation of the Armistice and Separation Agreement of 1994.
The stocks of munitions and materials are being replenished. For example, on April 16-17, 2008, a large amount of fuel, ammunitions and other military cargoes was delivered from Tbilisi to AF Base Senaki.
All these activities confirm intentions of Georgia to resolve the conflict with Abkhazia by force. The invasion may start within weeks.
It looks like Georgia after fiasco at the March NATO Summit where it failed to become an aspirant to the Alliance, makes efforts “to settle” the territorial conflicts by the next autumn summit.
No doubt that in these conditions the Russian Federation will have to take adequate steps to defend Russian peacekeepers and population of Abkhazia.
The reconnaissance activities of different types were intensified. The flights of reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles over Abkhazia became more frequent. It is confirmed with the dynamics of UAV killing - during the last thirty days the Abkhaz AD systems shot down two drones (March 18 and April 20) versus only one drone in the second semester of 2007.
Georgian peacekeepers on Collective Peacekeeping Force OPs in the Southern Security Zone also conduct reconnaissance.
From the early spring the Georgian troops were engaged in several tactical exercises including in the areas adjacent to the Security Zone. The Artillery Brigade from Gori and artillery battalions of infantry brigades conducted practice firing in the Orpolo firing range. In April attack aircraft Su-25 performed training and reconnaissance flights in the immediate vicinity of the Georgian-Abkhaz administrative border. In so doing, special attention is paid to training the pilots to navigate in low visibility conditions (including at night) over the mountainous terrain and settlements. Israel and Ukrainian instructors are involved in the training.
Currently Georgia is actively forming the task forces in the Zugdidi District of Georgia and upper Kodori Valley. The total strength of the forces is about 5,000.
Personnel, military equipment, weapons and ammunitions are delivered to these areas by air (from AF Base Senaki) and by road via passage Kalamri-Suki to bypass CIS peacekeepers’ OPs. These actions are performed in direct violation of the Armistice and Separation Agreement of 1994.
The stocks of munitions and materials are being replenished. For example, on April 16-17, 2008, a large amount of fuel, ammunitions and other military cargoes was delivered from Tbilisi to AF Base Senaki.
All these activities confirm intentions of Georgia to resolve the conflict with Abkhazia by force. The invasion may start within weeks.
It looks like Georgia after fiasco at the March NATO Summit where it failed to become an aspirant to the Alliance, makes efforts “to settle” the territorial conflicts by the next autumn summit.
No doubt that in these conditions the Russian Federation will have to take adequate steps to defend Russian peacekeepers and population of Abkhazia.
