Action of 9 August 2008

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Action off Abkhazia


caption=Russian guided missile cruiser "Moskva".
partof=2008 South Ossetia War
date=August 9, 2008Fact|date=September 2008
place=Black Sea off Abkhazia, Georgia
result= Russian victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=1 Cruiser
1 Destroyer
5 Corvettes
7 other ships
strength2=4 or 5 patrol boats
(Russian sources)
casualties1=none
casualties2=1 patrol boat sunk
1 patrol boat damaged
(Russian sources)|The Action off Abkhazia was a naval skirmish fought between a Russian Navy task force of the Black Sea Fleet and four Georgian Navy units that took place on August 9 2008Fact|date=September 2008 near the northern coast of Georgia, during the 2008 South Ossetia War. One of the Georgian vessels was reported to have been sunk by the Russian task force, the remaining three were forced to withdraw. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSLA560705 Russian navy sinks Georgian boat-Defence ministry] August 10, 2008]

Russian Navy operations

The Russian Navy had stationed a patrol off the coast of GeorgiaFailed verification|date=September 2008 with declared goal to prevent weapons from landing by sea. According to Russian sources "the crews were assigned the task to not allow arms and military hardware supplies to reach Georgia by sea." [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/10/content_9138604.htm#prof Russian navy blockade Georgia] , Xinhua, 2008-08-10 ("Meanwhile, the Abkhaz law enforcement agencies confirmed that several Georgian warships attempted on Saturday to approach the coast of Abkhazia. But the attempts were curbed by ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.")]

The task force consisted of the following units: [http://invasionintogeorgia.org/news/black-sea-fleet-moving-towards-georgia/1014.html]
* Project 1164 Atlant Class Cruiser "RFS Moskva"
* Project 61 Class (Upgraded) Destroyer "Smetlivy"
* "Alligator" Class Landing Ship "Saratov".
* Project 775 Class Landing Ships "Caesar Kunikov" and "Yamal".
* Albatros-class Anti-Submarine Corvettes "Kasimov", "Povorino" and "Suzdalets".
* Project 1234.1 Ovod Class Corvette "Mirazh".
* Project 1239 Class Missile Boat "Samum"
* Moma Class Surveillance ship "Ekvator".
* Natya Class Minesweepers "Zhukov" and "Turbinist".
* Small Landing Ship "Koida"
* Sorum Class Fleet Tug "MB-31".

Its presence in Abkhazian waters, which prompted the engagement, was co-ordinated and launched from the Crimea, Ukraine. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Ukraine Ready For Talks With Russia About Return Of Russian Black Sea Ships To Crimea
publisher = Ukrainian News Agency
date = 2008-08-11
url = http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/141696.html
accessdate = 2008-08-14 ]

Georgian authorities claimed that, besides the declared blockade mission, the Russian task force was actually landing 4,000 troops and armored vehicles in Ochamchira to support an attack against Georgian troops deployed at Kodori Gorge. A missile attack was launched against an inland target by the Russian cruiser "Moskva". ["The landing force consisted of 4000 military personnel, battle tanks and other military hardware have been disembarked by the Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels in port of Ochamchira. The personnel have advanced towards the Kodori Gorge and attacked territory controlled by the Georgian side, while the battle tanks and other military hardware have advanced towards Senaki; he guided missile cruiser has committed missile attack on Kodori." [http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=461&info_id=7322#prof Georgian Ministry of Foreing Affairs] ]

The battle

According to Black Sea Fleet officials, elements of the Georgian Navy consisting of two missile boats and two auxiliary craft breached the "security zone", as originally imposed by the Russian Navy. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that, after two sorties by the Georgians against the Russian fleet, the Russian units retaliated with naval gunfire, sinking one of the attacking boats and forcing the remaining three Georgian warships to withdraw towards the port of Poti. Georgian sources remain silent about the engagement, but Abkhazian officials confirmed the action. [ [http://rutube.ru/tracks/972547.html?v=ca8d788c3818ad74d1aee475b793f3f9 Russian news agencies report sunken Georgian ship] , Associated Press, 10 August 2008] It transpired later,From a [http://www.kpunews.com/main_topic11_14200.html#prof Ukrainian press interview] with a Russian sailor.] and was confirmed by Russian sources on August 10, [ [http://rutube.ru/tracks/972547.html?v=ca8d788c3818ad74d1aee475b793f3f9 Russia vs. Georgia Sea Battle] // RTR, August 10, 2008] [ [http://rutube.ru/tracks/915921.html?v=f2253a66e1138222df06d696d5b6d0f4 Georgian Navy Forces Would Like to Show Their Strength] // NTV, August 10, 2008] that the Georgian warship was actually struck by two "Malachite" missiles fired by the corvette "Mirazh"; furthermore, it is believed that a second boat was also damaged by naval gunfire. The latter claim has since been denied, with Russia reporting that the vessel sunk in action was the P-21 patrol boat "Giorgi Toreli", which "disappeared from the surface" within minutes . [cite web
last = Shachtman
first = Noah
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Inside the Battle for the Black Sea
work = Danger Room
publisher = Wired
date = 2008-08-15
url = http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/08/while-the-media.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-08-21 ]

Aftermath

Russian forces took control of the port on 12 August. According to the Georgian government all the remaining naval vessels there, most of them belonging to the Coast Guard, were destroyed by demolition teams. [cite press release
title = Facts of aggression committed by the Russian Black Sea Fleet
publisher = Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
date = August 2008
url = http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=461&info_id=7322#prof
accessdate = 2008-08-21 Archived by WebCite® at [http://www.webcitation.org/5ajEQ34sm webcitation.org/5ajEQ34sm] .] The captain of the corvette "Mirazh", Ivan Dubik, was received in Moscow by Russian president Dimitry Medvedev, who awarded him a military medal, along with another members of the Russian armed forces. [ [http://visualrian.com/images/item/330714#prof RIA novosty] ] [ [http://www.kommersant.com/p1011594/Russia_Georgia_South_Ossetia_conflict/#prof www.kommersant.com] ]

Footnotes

References

External links

* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1218104258690&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Reports: Russia sinks Georgian ship trying to attack Russian navy ships] , "The Jerusalem Post", Aug 10, 2008
* [http://www.kpunews.com/main_topic11_14200.html#prof Катер "Тбилиси" ракетой буквально разнесло в клочья: участник операции в Черном море/Aug 13 2008] uk icon