WAR!

It appears that Russia has invaded Georgia. The news is being underplayed a bit - the BeeB says "Russian tanks are moving towards the capital of Georgia's separatist region of South Ossetia, which has been under heavy bombardment from Georgian forces"; given that South Ossetia is part of Georgia, wouldn't this be an invasion of that country - but it looks like the balloon may have finally gone up.

Reports out of Tbilisi (Georgia's capital) indicate that Russia aircraft are bombing the airport in that city of over 1 million people.

Units moving in to Georgia are coming out of the Volga-Ural Military District although the exact units are, as yet, unknown. However, the BeeB (and other sources) are reporting "150" tanks. If accurate, this probably means the 131st Motor Rifle Brigade and the 19th Motor Rifle Division are moving in, en masse.

CNN is carrying this from the president of Georgia;

Georgia's president said Friday that his country is under attack from Russian tanks and warplanes, and he accused Russia of targeting civilian populations as tensions over the breakway Georgian region of South Ossetia appeared to boil over into full-blown conflict.
Russia's Channel 1 shows heavy tanks purported to be on their way to South Ossetia.

"All day today they've been bombing Georgia from numerous warplanes and specifically targeting (the) civilian population, and we have scores of wounded and dead among (the) civilian population all around the country," Mikhail Saakashvili told CNN in an exclusive interview.

Saakashvili also said Georgian troops had shot down two Russian aircraft.

Asked whether Georgia and Russia were now at war, he said, "My country is in self-defense against Russian aggression. Russian troops invaded Georgia."

The new Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is saying that "I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are. We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished. Those responsible will receive a deserved punishment."

This after reports that Russian "peacekeepers" have been killed in operations by the Georgian military in and around the city of Tskhinvali against separatist forces. I put peacekeepers in quotes, because it has been clear for some time that the Russians have been arming, training and actively aiding Georgian rebels.

Whatever you want to call it, it seems like war to me. More later.

(Sources: CNN, BBC)