Europe’s First War of the 21st Century

5 INTERNATIONALLY DOCUMENTED FACTS ABOUT THE RUSSO-GEORGIAN WAR

In August 2008, Georgia faced a military assault that marked one of the most significant geopolitical ruptures in post-Soviet Europe. The brief but devastating war with Russia not only altered lives and borders but also reshaped the region’s security landscape. Years later, the invasion of Ukraine would confirm that the 2008 war was not an isolated event, but an early signal of broader threats to European stability. 

On August 7, 2008, Russian armed forces began a full-scale invasion into Georgian territory. The assault targeted the Tskhinvali Region and surrounding areas, triggering Europe’s first open military conflict of the 21st century. According to the EU’s official fact-finding mission, known as the Tagliavini Report, the hostilities escalated overnight, but Russian troops had already entered Georgian territory in advance of large-scale fighting.

The conflict extended beyond the Tskhinvali Region. Russia simultaneously reinforced its military presence in occupied Abkhazia, which had been under Russian control since the 1990s. In 2008, that presence turned into full militarization. The Kremlin went on to unilaterally declare both regions “independent” despite clear international consensus that they remain part of Georgia. This position is affirmed by the United Nations, the OSCE, and a wide array of international institutions.

The human impact was immediate. More than 20,000 people, mostly ethnic Georgians, were forcibly displaced from their homes in both occupied regions. Entire villages were burned and targeted ethnic cleansing was documented by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other humanitarian organizations.

Although the active phase of the war lasted five days, its consequences continue. Russia never fulfilled its obligation under the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement of August 12. Its forces remain in both Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region, where military infrastructure has expanded and the so-called process of borderization continues to divide communities and shift control over land.

Russia’s recognition of the occupied territories has been widely condemned. The European Union, NATO, the United Nations, and other international communities affirm that both regions are integral parts of Georgia under Russian occupation.

Seventeen years on, the war remains unresolved. The international position has not changed. Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region are Georgian territory, militarily occupied by Russia.