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The Bear Went Through the Mountain: Russia Appraises its Five-Day War in South Ossetia

The August 2008 Russian-Georgia conflict was the first Russian full-scale use of force against a former member of the Soviet Union. This paper looks at the August conflict solely from the vantage point of the Russian press, in particular the views of military officers or military journalists. The findings offer insights into the information war conducted in the Russian press, the continued suspicion of Russia about US actions in the area, and the strengths and weaknesses of Russia's armed forces. Russia's rational for supporting South Ossetia, that “if Georgia can break away from the Soviet Union, why can't South Ossetia break away from Georgia?” indicates that this may not be the last development of its kind that Russia supports. The Crimea and Transdniester come immediately to mind.