Georgia commemorates fallen soldiers in Shindisi battle of 2008 war
17 of 21 soldiers died in the Shindisi battle on the day 13 years ago, during the Russia-Georgia 2008 war. Video grab from the movie Shindisi.
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Georgia is commemorating today a group of soldiers who lost their lives during the Russia-Georgia 2008 war in a battle in Shindisi village in central Georgia.
On the day 13 years ago a 21-member detachment of Georgian soldiers came face-to-face with Russian soldiers in the village of Shindisi.
The Russians greatly outnumbered the Georgian soldiers and ordered them to surrender, but they refused.
The uneven battle continued for 45 minutes.
Despite being greatly outnumbered, Georgians inflicted significant damage on their enemy. All but four of the Georgian soldiers died in the fight.
We will never surrender. #ShindisiBattle 13 years ago is the example. On these days ????????commemorates those man and women in uniform who sacrificed their lives during the #RussianInvasion of Georgia in 2008. #ShindisiHeros #RussianOccupationWillEnd pic.twitter.com/3ThvsyHYhM
— Lasha Darsalia (@LashaDarsalia2) August 11, 2021
One of the fallen soldiers in the Shindisi battle Aleksandre Oniani has been posthumously granted the title of national hero earlier today.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the day ‘confirms there are no large and small battles. Any battle may become a brilliant example of devotion.’
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said that the Shindisi battle is the page in the Georgian history ‘we should be very proud of.’
The country which has such devoted soldiers has no reason to mourn or stay hopeless,” Zurabishvili said.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani, Interior Minister Vakhtag Gomelauri also praised the devotion of the soldiers and described the date ‘as one of the most important days in Georgian history.’
Politicians, ambassadors and ministries of Georgia's international partner states have marked the 13th anniversary of the 2008 war with messages condemning Russia's ongoing occupation of two of Georgia's regions and reiterating support for the territorial integrity of the country.
Georgian officials, state institutions and the wider society are marking 13 years since the 2008 war that left tens of thousands displaced from their homes in the now-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, while over 400 citizens of the country were killed.
Georgian and foreign officials and diplomatic missions have issued condemnations of Russia's ongoing occupation of two of Georgia's regions and called on the Russian government to comply with the ceasefire agreement that ended the 2008 war between the two countries, on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the conflict.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has appealed for "essential effort" from the international community in the process of ending the ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of Georgia, in a release on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the occupation.