South Ossetian Army Trains with Military Helicopters

The Georgian agency “Media News” quotes Irina Gagloeva, the head of the information committee of the South Ossetian de facto authorities, as saying that the South Ossetian authorities have purchased three military helicopters. According to Gagloeva, military drills involving helicopter support were practiced for the first time in the history of South Ossetian military forces in the Java district of South Ossetia on August 6.

The type of the helicopters or the state where the helicopters were purchased as not been identified. However, the South Ossetian section of the Russo-Georgian border is the only area which is accessible by both land and air and also bypasses the control of the Georgian authorities.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry protested the violation of the Georgian airspace over South Ossetia by Russian military aircrafts on July 12 and August 7. Russia denies violating the border.