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### Viewing cable 08TBILISI1343, GEORGIA: SOUTH OSSETIA--SITREP 3: RUSSIAN BOMBS

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08TBILISI1343 | 2008-08-09 07:07 | 2011-02-18 00:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Tbilisi
Appears in these articles: http://rusrep.ru/article/2010/11/29/wikileaks_docs_02/

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    VZCZCXRO7065
    PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
    DE RUEHSI #1343/01 2220756
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 090756Z AUG 08
    FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9867
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001343

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2018
    TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM RU GG
    SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SOUTH OSSETIA--SITREP 3: RUSSIAN BOMBS
    FALL THROUGHOUT GEORGIA

    REF: TBILISI 1341

    Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

    ¶1.  (C)  Begin Summary and Comment:  Multiple bases,
    airports, and Georgia's port of Poti were all bombed
    overnight by Russian aircraft, with bombing continuing in the
    daylight hours of August 9, with bombs hitting civilian
    targets in the Georgian city of Gori.  Reports of casualties
    continue to come in, most still unreliable and unverifiable,
    but it is clear that casualty numbers are growing.  There
    were reportedly dozens killed in Senaki and Poti.  The
    government of Georgia has not declared a state of emergency,
    but is limiting news being aired on TV and has evacuated some
    key government buildings in Tbilisi.  The bombing is causing
    widespread fear in the Georgian population.  In South
    Ossetia, OSCE confirms that artillery fire continued into the
    morning hours near Tskhinvali.  The MFA has released no new
    statements, and the Ministry of Reintegration has said the
    Abkhaz de-facto authorities have asked UNOMIG to immediately
    withdraw from Kodori.  This sitrep covers events that have
    transpired overnight on August 8-9 in Georgia (reftel).  End
    Summary and comment.

    ¶2.  (C)  President Saakashvili told the Ambassador in a late
    morning phone call that the Russians are out to take over
    Georgia and install a new regime.  They will not stop at
    retaking South Ossetia, but will move on Tbilisi.  He fears
    the Russians will never agree to a ceasefire.  Saakashvili
    and the Georgian leadership now believe that this entire
    Russian military operation is all part of a grand design by
    Putin to take Georgia and change the regime.  Saakashvili
    said that the Russian forces are now attacking Tskhinvali and
    the Georgian forces are resisting.  We believe the Georgians
    are out of air defense supplies, which makes them vulnerable
    to Russian air attacks.  He also believes the Russians will
    soon attack and try to seize the upper Kodori valley.
    Ominously, the Abkhaz formally asked UNOMIG this morning to
    withdraw their detachment in the Upper Kodori.

    ¶3. (C)  OSCE observers report that beginning at 0600 on
    August 9 Georgian artillery began shelling Tskhinvali and
    becoming heavy after 0900 to the Southwest of the city.  The
    JPFK commander reported that ten of his Russian peacekeepers
    were dead, and others were wounded.  OSCE observers said that
    Georgian aircraft were bombing the city at 1100 on August 8.
    According to OSCE, there has been no visible presence of
    Georgian forces in the city since 1500 on August 8 when they
    withdrew.  No accurate numbers of casualties are available
    and no international organizations such as Red Cross are
    present to assist with casualties.

    ¶4. (C) Poloff called the MFA and was told that there are no
    new statements since August 8, but confirmed that the
    Government has not/not called a state of emergency.  The MFA
    website: www.mfa.gov.ge appears to have been hacked.

    ¶5. (C) Deputy Minister of Reintegration Ruslan Abashidze told
    Poloff that the situation in South Ossetia is the same as
    August 8, with shelling coming from Java, but he believes
    Georgian forces control the nearby villages.  He said that
    Georgian forces are in control of Tskhinvali and are inside
    the city. Turning to the Abkhaz conflict he reported that the
    Abkhaz side has asked UNOMIG to withdraw immediately from
    Kodori (note: we have been unable to confirm request this
    with UNOMIG but such a move indicated intended hostilities).

    ¶6. (C) UNOMIG observers reported that all was quiet in the
    Zugdidi  on the evening of August 8, aside from Abkhaz moving
    9 T-55 (1960,s Soviet era) tanks toward the cease-fire line.

    ¶7. (C) Confirmed overnight (August 8-9) bombings include:

    -- Vaziani, again.  This former Soviet military base, which
    is usually home to 4th Brigade is being used as a
    mobilization site for reservists.  It lies only a few
    kilometers east of Tbilisi.  Buildings were reportedly hit
    this time.

    -- Senaki military base in west Georgia.  This base is home
    to the 2nd Brigade.  Unconfirmed reports indicate 20 killed
    there.

    -- The Port of Poti.  Georgia's deepest port outside of
    Ochamchire in Abkhazia.  Several "flat racks" where ships are
    loaded and unloaded were bombed, as was the nearby Coast
    Guard station.  Press reports indicate at least 15 people
    were killed.

    TBILISI 00001343  002 OF 002

    -- Kopinari Airport near Kutaisi.  This joint civilian and
    military airport was also bombed.  It is home to Su-25
    fighters and AN-2 Colt resupply aircraft.

    -- Marneuli Airbase, approximately 40 km south of Tbilisi,
    was bombed for the third time.

    -- The city of Gori.  Apparently, one attempt by Russian jets
    to bomb an artillery position near Gori missed.  A bomb
    landed in town destroying some stores and abandoned
    buildings.  No casualties were reported in this attack.
    Georgian radio later reported that Russian bombers attacked
    Gori early August 9, attempting to knock out the last bridge
    linking the road crossing Georgia from east to west as well
    as a communications tower.  President Saakashvili reported
    that at mid-day August 9, Russian planes had begun bombing
    housing blocks in Gori, with hundreds of casualties, calling
    this "pure terror."

    -- Upper Kodori was also bombed.  Details are sketchy.

    ¶8. (C) Additional unconfirmed reports include:

    -- Sections of the railroad running from Poti toward Kutaisi
    may have been bombed.

    -- Dozens of police in Mestia (north west Georgia) have
    mobilized and are moving toward the Russian border.

    -- The Zugdidi road is open, and Georgian troops are moving
    north toward Kodori.

    ¶9.  (C) On the economic front, the Government has been
    undertaking contingency planning in case of a prolonged
    conflict.  During an August 8 meeting with the Ambassador,
    Prime Minister Gurgenidze talked about his efforts to calm
    investors during the current crisis.  He noted that the
    economy had been remarkably calm.  There had been no change
    in the currency and the stock exchange was working normally.
    Georgia had not touched its Eurobond money, and natural gas
    and electricity supplies were in good shape.  The PM noted
    that the Georgians were considering contingencies, especially
    with regard to energy supplies, should the conflict continue.
    For example, one major power plant had already shifted over
    to natural gas from electricity and there are plans to import
    gas from Turkey.  The Georgians are also planning to stop
    exports of electricity to Russia and have made arrangements
    to purchase "off-peak" energy from Azerbaijan.  Although
    investors were nervous, the PM noted that there was no panic
    buying among the population.
    TEFFT

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