8 Aug 2008
Ten Russian peacekeepers killed in attack, others captured
Russian news agency RIA Novosti is reporting ten Russian peacekeepers killed in Georgia’s initial attack on the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali. The report also said about 30 peacekeepers were injured and others had been captured by Georgian forces.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also reported that there are already signs and reports of ethnic cleansing in the areas of South Ossetia now occupied by Georgia. Georgia now claims to occupy the city of Tskhinvali, which according to Russian news agency Interfax, “has been almost completely destoryed by Georgian bombardments.”
Three hours ago, the secretary of the Georgian national security council announced that if Russian troops and armor enter South Ossetia (which reports say they have) then the two countries are in a “state of war.”