Battle of Tskhinvali

Battle of Tskhinvali
Part of Russo-Georgian War
Movements of opposing forces around Tskhinvali. Blue arrows show Georgian movements, red show Russian movements
Date 8–11 August 2008 (3 days) Location Tskhinvali, Georgia Result Russian and South Ossetian victory Georgian forces withdraw fully from the city Russian forces continue to advance into undisputed Georgia
Belligerents
Georgia	Russia  South Ossetia
Commanders and leaders
Mikheil Saakashvili Davit Kezerashvili Mamuka Kurashvili Vano Merabishvili Zaza Gogava	Anatoly Khrulyov (WIA) Marat Kulakhmetov Sulim Yamadayev Kazbek Friev †[1][2] Anatoly Barankevich †[3][4] Vasiliy Lunev †[5][6]
Strength
10,000–11,000 servicemen in entire South Ossetia[7]	496 from Russian battalion, 488 from North Ossetia serving as peacekeepers.[8] Up to 10,000 troops arrived from Russia as reinforcements[9] Up to 3,500 troops.[10]
Casualties and losses
Georgia Fewer than total war casualties Georgian Armed Forces: Killed: 169[11] Wounded: 947[12] MIA: 1[11] Ministry of Internal Affairs: Killed: 11[12] Wounded: 227[12] MIA: 3[12]	Russia Fewer than total war casualties Killed: 67[13] Wounded: 283[14] MIA: 3[14] South Ossetia Fewer than total war casualties Ministry of Defence: Killed: 27[15] Wounded: 69[16] Ministry of Internal Affairs: Killed: 10[15] Ossetian reserves: Killed: c.50[15]

The Battle of Tskhinvali (Georgian: ცხინვალის ბრძოლა; Russian: Бои за Цхинвали) was a fight for the city of Tskhinvali, the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia. It was the only major battle in the Russo-Georgian War. Georgian ground troops entered the city on early 8 August 2008. After the three-day fierce fighting with South Ossetian militia and Russian troops, Georgian troops finally withdrew from the city on the evening of 10 August. By 11 August, all Georgian troops had left South Ossetia and Russian forces advanced into undisputed Georgia facing no resistance.