Today in History, Aug. 8

By The Moscow Times
The destroyed peacekeepers' barracks in South Ossetia Dmitry Steshin

Five years ago today, on Aug. 8, 2008, Georgia embarked on a military offensive in South Ossetia, a disputed region in the South Caucasus. Georgia's actions sparked the start of a four-day war against Russia, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,500 civilians.

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