Russia has engaged Georgian forces on the ground for the first time as the South Ossetia conflict escalates.
Russia has sent tanks into Tskhinvali, the capitol of the South Ossetia region after Georgian forces moved against Ossetian seperatists. Georgian forces have been reported to be shelling the city.
Amid fierce fighting, some sources report up to 1,400 civilians dead, Russia reports 12 of it’s soldiers have died.
Other reports suggest that Russian SU-24 aircraft dropped munitions against a police station in Kareli within Georgian airspace adjacent to the Ossetia region.
Vladimir Putin of Russia is said to have remarked to US President George W Bush that [the] real war in Ossetia has begun.
Update
From press photography and video pertaining to this conflict, I have so far identified Mi-24 Hind Helicopters and Su-25 Frogfoot close air support aircraft in action. It is not immediately clear whether it is Russia or Georgia operating these aircraft.
Tags: bush, georgia, ossetia, putin, russia, seperatists, su24, war
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