The war in August 2008. On the eve of invasion...
A massive artillery bombardment of populated areas of South Ossetia, which began on August 1, lasted throughout the night. Six people were killed and twelve injured.
In the night of August 2, the Georgian side has brought down fire on the sleeping town. Heavy fire from automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades was conducted upon the uptown. The ambulances, which were delivering the wounded to the hospital, also came under fire.
The shelling disrupted the power supply in the Republic. Repair crews could not repair the damage, as the Georgian police at the illegal positions in Ergneti and Eredvi did not hesitate to open fire.
On that night took place a telephone conversation of President Eduard Kokoity, with the head of North Ossetia Teimuraz Mamsurov, who assured that North Ossetian people would not remain indifferent to the fate of their brothers and were always ready to come to their aid.
"We are outraged by the actions of the Georgian political leadership unleashed a real war against Ossetia, and we are determined to resist the aggression jointly," - said Mamsurov.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia also made a statement with regard to sharp aggravation of the situation ,where declared that Georgia's actions were the evidence of the intention to start open military aggression against the Republic.
President Eduard Kokoity announced general mobilization and recruiting volunteers from the North Caucasus.
"We have been trying to avoid hostilities and continue the negotiation process, but Georgia does not leave us a choice. We have to protect our people and their land, "- he said.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, August 2, was convened an emergency meeting of the Government of the Republic to discuss the current situation. Prime Minister Yury Morozov said that the use of force by Georgia seriously destabilized the situation, already complicated by the continuing water supply blockade of Tskhinval, anti-Ossetian hysteria and bellicose rhetoric of Tbilisi.
A large-scale evacuation of civilians has begun after the meeting in the Republic.