The Georgian war – minute by minute, August 9

9 Aug, 2008 15:46 / Updated 16 years ago

23:30 GMT – Shortly after his trip to Vladikavkaz Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to discuss the crisis in South Ossetia.

23:00 GMT – UN Security Council for the third time fails to make a decision on the conflict in South Ossetia.17:05 – Abkhazian official have announced that the republic’s troops have entered the Gail district bordering Georgia. 20:00 GMT – The UN Security Council gathers once again to discuss the situation in South Ossetia. 15:45 GMT – 76 Airborne Brigade of the Russian Army arrives in the conflict region – Russian military officials. 15:20 GMT – Prime Minister Putin arrives in Russia’s republic of North Ossetia to discuss aid for the refugees arriving from South Ossetia. 14:19 GMT – Russia’s Interfax news agency quotes locals in Georgia claiming convoys of ‘NATO military vehicles’ are travelling to South Ossetia. 14:02 GMT – Fifty journalists in Tskhinvali ask Russia, Georgia and United States to organise safe passage for them and civilian refugees. 14:16 GMT – South Ossetian President says second Georgian assault on Tskhinvali was repelled. 14:13 GMT – Georgian troops are regrouping ‘ready to repel any attack’, says Georgian Interior Ministry. 13:50 GMT – UN High Commissioner for Refugees confirms up to 7,400 people flee from South Ossetia. 13:34 GMT – At least 2,000 people were killed in Tskhinvali -Russia’s ambassador to Georgia. 13:16 GMT – Russia considers bringing the killing of peacekeepers to the international court – Foreign Ministry. 13:03 GMT – Tbilisi may ask the West for military aid – head of Georgia’s national security council. 12:53 GMT – Bush assures Medvedev he will help return the situation in South Ossetia to the sphere of diplomacy. 12:53 GMT – Georgian troops block 2,000 refugees from fleeing South Ossetia – Russian Foreign Ministry. 12:48 GMT – Medvedev tells Bush by phone: ‘Russia is forcing Georgia to peace, protecting the lives and dignity of its citizen’ – Ria Novosti. 12:30 GMT – Websites from the .ru domain are blocked in Tbilisi – Russian embassy. 11:52 GMT – Abkhazia says it has launched an offensive against Georgian troops in the Kodory gorge. 11:05 GMT – Saakashvili calls for an immediate ceasefire, accuses Russia of invasion. 11:09 GMT – Georgian parliament approves declaration of martial law in the country. 10:34 GMT – Georgian media report Russia has bombed Tbilisi-controlled villages in Abkhazia. 10:16 GMT – Georgia is de facto at war with Russia – Georgian Foreign Ministry. 10:10 GMT – Georgian websites are under attack – Saakashvili. 10:02 GMT – Georgian artillery resumes shelling the peacekeepers’ headquarters in Tskhinvali, according to Interfax. 09:40 GMT – Georgia has 50 dead and 450 wounded after three days of battles – unidentified military source in the conflict zone, quoted by the Interfax news agency. 09:00 – Georgia to declare martial law – President Mikhail Saakashvili. 08:59 GMT – Georgian troops ‘surrender and flee’ in Tskhinvali – peacekeeping commander. 08:59 GMT – Georgian media claim a Russian pilot has been captured after two planes were shot down.  Another was found dead, reports say. 08:46 – Experts from the EU, the US and the OSCE are to mediate in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict – office of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. 08:32 GMT – The use of multiple-launch rocket systems by Georgia caused mass civilian losses – Russian military. 08:32 GMT – Georgia is building up forces near the Abkhazian border, according to Abkhazian officials. 08:24 GMT – Russian military denies bombing civilians in Georgia. 08:20 GMT – Russian military admits loosing two aircraft in South Ossetian conflict. 07:54 – Russian troops do not control Tskhinvali so they resort to air strikes – Georgian official. 07:54 – Moscow accuses Kiev of encouraging the Georgian offensive by supplying Tbilisi with arms. 07:40 GMT – Russian units ‘have cleared Tskhinvali of Georgian troops’, according to the commander of Russia’s ground forces, General Boldirev. 07:24 GMT – Russian paratrooper units arrive in South Ossetia. 07:22 GMT – Peacekeeping commander reports Russian troops have suppressed the intensive bombardment of Tskhinvali by Georgian military. 07:16 GMT – U.S. Ministry of State condemns Russia’s ‘use of strategic bombers and missiles’ against Georgia. 07:15 GMT – Russian Emergencies Ministry sets up temporary refugee camps in southern Russia. 07:12 GMT – Tskhinvali death toll rises to 1,600 people, according to South Ossetian officials. 07:13 GMT – South Ossetia claims it has shot down a second Georgian fighter plane. 07:06 GMT – NATO has no mandate to interfere in the South Ossetian conflict – alliance official. 07:04 GMT – An estimated 30,000 refugees have fled South Ossetia over the past 1.5 days – Russian Government official. 06:56 GMT – Those responsible for the humanitarian crisis in South Ossetia must be held responsible for their actions – Medvedev. 06:46 GMT – Georgia to withdraw all its troops from Iraq – Reuters agency. 06:48 GMT – Georgia says Russian aircraft have bombed a telecom site in the Georgian city of Gori. 05:56 GMT – Georgia’s Defence Minister reports that his country’s troops are advancing into South Ossetian territory. 05:51 GMT – South Ossetians say Georgian snipers are hampering the transfer of the wounded to hospitals. 05:51 GMT – Georgian media reports 12 Georgian soldiers were killed during bombing of a military base by Russian aircraft. 05:46 GMT – Russian peacekeepers have launched a peace enforcing operation in South Ossetia – Medvedev. 05:30 GMT – Russian Special Forces attachment arrives on outskirts of Tskhinvali – Russian military source 05:15 GMT – Russian unit breaks through to peacekeepers base camp, says military official. Evacuation of wounded soldiers starts. 05:09 GMT – South Ossetians claims Georgian troops captured hostages while retreating. 05:02 GMT – Russian military prosecutors launch an investigation into peacekeeper deaths in South Ossetia. 05:02 GMT – Russian military prosecutors launch an investigation into peacekeepers deaths in South Ossetia. 04:03 GMT – Russia sends special forces troops to South Ossetia. 03:56 GMT –  Three Russian peacekeepers die overnight, raising the total death toll for peacekeeping forces to 15 -  Russian military. 03:45 GMT – Evacuees report to Russian military that Georgian artillery shelled a convoy with wounded people – Interfax 02:00 GMT – U.S. condemns Russia’s ‘military actions against Georgia’, announces U.S. envoy to the United Nations. 00:10 GMT – The shelling of Tshinvali stops.