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Osprey Elite #250
Russia's Five-Day War: The invasion of Georgia, August 2008
A fascinating account of Russia's Five-Day War against Georgia in 2008, notable for its strategic mistakes which prompted President Putin to undertake major military reforms.
After Georgia's independence from Russia in 1991, President Saakashvili invited NATO advisers to assist in military reforms. Separatist groups in Georgia's border provinces rebelled which led to fighting in South Ossetia during August 2008. The Russian Army invaded Georgia alongside these forces, stripped it of these rebellious provinces, and garrisoned them to maintain a threat over Georgia. But despite the inevitable outcome of this hugely unbalanced conflict, it revealed serious Russian military weaknesses and incompetence, and the NATO-trained and partly Western-equipped Georgian Army put up a much more successful local resistance than Russia had expected. The conflict also demonstrated the first use of Russian cyber-warfare, and its so-called 'hybrid warfare' doctrine.
Author Mark Galeotti is an expert in the field of international relations and a former Foreign Office adviser on Russian security affairs. In this book, he provides a vivid snapshot of the Russian, Georgian, Abkhazian and South Ossetian forces and gives an in-depth analysis of the conflict. Using meticulous color artwork for uniforms, insignia and equipment, rare photographs and detailed 'fact-boxes' for significant units and individuals, this book is a compelling guide to Russia's Five-Day War in Georgia.
After Georgia's independence from Russia in 1991, President Saakashvili invited NATO advisers to assist in military reforms. Separatist groups in Georgia's border provinces rebelled which led to fighting in South Ossetia during August 2008. The Russian Army invaded Georgia alongside these forces, stripped it of these rebellious provinces, and garrisoned them to maintain a threat over Georgia. But despite the inevitable outcome of this hugely unbalanced conflict, it revealed serious Russian military weaknesses and incompetence, and the NATO-trained and partly Western-equipped Georgian Army put up a much more successful local resistance than Russia had expected. The conflict also demonstrated the first use of Russian cyber-warfare, and its so-called 'hybrid warfare' doctrine.
Author Mark Galeotti is an expert in the field of international relations and a former Foreign Office adviser on Russian security affairs. In this book, he provides a vivid snapshot of the Russian, Georgian, Abkhazian and South Ossetian forces and gives an in-depth analysis of the conflict. Using meticulous color artwork for uniforms, insignia and equipment, rare photographs and detailed 'fact-boxes' for significant units and individuals, this book is a compelling guide to Russia's Five-Day War in Georgia.
64 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 2, 2025
Solid narrative in dire need of some proper maps.
April 1, 2024
Very good overview of the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, with very good comments on qualities and errors that were found on both sides during this short conflict.
As is case with this author and contemporary Russian military, bias is so strong that I can envision the author with clenched teeth and shaking hand while trying to write down that this was actually provoked by Georgian side. That being said, I can commend that basics are given. Again, those pesky South Ossetian's are baddies because they feel more politically linked to Russia than to Georgia (how dare they!) and Abkhazians are also rebellious holdout for the same reason- but actual explanations of inter-ethnic relations is of course missing, except in form of all that inter ethnic tension is just product of Russian interference, its not like Georgian's were so aggressive in the early 1990s, no, never! Of course this makes author's comment in the very beginning that Adjarans were easily subdued by Georgians sound a little bit off, but I put this to author's very strange (but again, when talking about contemporary Russia, also very consistent) way of thinking where anyone who even looks at Russia for help is outcast. And maybe in author's home country subduing means inviting for tea and biscuits, not use of force. Who knows, you know, different cultures.
Georgia turned to the West very early and received a lots of training from Western armies (UK, US and if one looks at some of the information, Israelis) and armament (US, UK, Greece, Turkey and again Israel). This brought back old hatred for the north of the country and decision was made to finally return the territories of these two breakaway republics. I have to say author manages to walk a straight line and explains how Georgian government's decision was foolish but he cannot resist the temptation to say how, you know, it was not even decision of Georgia to attack, they were pushed because Russians provoked them (I mean, of course!). It is not that in 15 years after last great conflict there were no border skirmishes, attacks on civilian settlements from all sides and exchange of artillery fire. No, according to the author this entire area was as peaceful as Biblical Paradise until tensions got heated up in 2007/2008 and Georgian authorities decided to finally end this sudden (and I guess unexpected) violence outbreak!
Now, author constantly makes clear how Georgia in 2008 was a country that aimed for Western block acceptance by doing things that are on acceptance list of Western block apparently - restructuring military in a way that western only weapons are procured (can you be an ally of West without HK MP5 and M4 carbines or Barrett rifles - if you ask the author no, you cannot, without these you are not even a modern army!) and joining US led military campaigns in far away countries like Iraq and Afghanistan (after being trained by NATO instructors to be able to fight in these countries under Western command structures). This is what makes progressive country it seems.
So, as said above, as a side effect rapid militarization, Georgia's government decided to take the country on the path to militarily retake northern republics. Taking into account that army commander in chief was trained in US, army was trained by various US/NATO programs (and Israelis) it is very likely that same structures were involved in planning and execution of the attack, especially considering that everyone though Georgian army would run over the rebels in a matter of days.
What happened is that Russians intervened and in a series of short but intensive battles (and long range strikes into the Georgian territory) Georgian army was pushed back, losing infrastructure, combat equipment and giving Russians excuse to deploy their troops to stay in the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions for years to come.
Day by day descriptions of battles, very good analysis and identifications of errors on both sides (especially Russian since in this war they were the heavy hitters) are truly good (comments from the Russian military side that author quotes truly showed the functional gaps in the Russian military at the time). For this book would be 4 stars.
What takes one star is Russians-did-it (although they were taken by complete surprise at the beginning - again author's reasoning is very interesting) and constant, unnecessary and really disappointing jabs at rebel republics (I mean imagine situation where Ossetian professional Alania battalion, part of peace keeping forces in South Ossetia, decided to take arms when Georgian troops came to the South Ossetia capital! I mean can you imagine that type of behavior - they threw off their pose of neutrality as author says :) I mean, you gotta laugh).
For military analysis and profiling of the parties involved this is excellent read. For political information, as is case with any author's book about contemporary Russia, this is not a source to learn anything from.
As is case with this author and contemporary Russian military, bias is so strong that I can envision the author with clenched teeth and shaking hand while trying to write down that this was actually provoked by Georgian side. That being said, I can commend that basics are given. Again, those pesky South Ossetian's are baddies because they feel more politically linked to Russia than to Georgia (how dare they!) and Abkhazians are also rebellious holdout for the same reason- but actual explanations of inter-ethnic relations is of course missing, except in form of all that inter ethnic tension is just product of Russian interference, its not like Georgian's were so aggressive in the early 1990s, no, never! Of course this makes author's comment in the very beginning that Adjarans were easily subdued by Georgians sound a little bit off, but I put this to author's very strange (but again, when talking about contemporary Russia, also very consistent) way of thinking where anyone who even looks at Russia for help is outcast. And maybe in author's home country subduing means inviting for tea and biscuits, not use of force. Who knows, you know, different cultures.
Georgia turned to the West very early and received a lots of training from Western armies (UK, US and if one looks at some of the information, Israelis) and armament (US, UK, Greece, Turkey and again Israel). This brought back old hatred for the north of the country and decision was made to finally return the territories of these two breakaway republics. I have to say author manages to walk a straight line and explains how Georgian government's decision was foolish but he cannot resist the temptation to say how, you know, it was not even decision of Georgia to attack, they were pushed because Russians provoked them (I mean, of course!). It is not that in 15 years after last great conflict there were no border skirmishes, attacks on civilian settlements from all sides and exchange of artillery fire. No, according to the author this entire area was as peaceful as Biblical Paradise until tensions got heated up in 2007/2008 and Georgian authorities decided to finally end this sudden (and I guess unexpected) violence outbreak!
Now, author constantly makes clear how Georgia in 2008 was a country that aimed for Western block acceptance by doing things that are on acceptance list of Western block apparently - restructuring military in a way that western only weapons are procured (can you be an ally of West without HK MP5 and M4 carbines or Barrett rifles - if you ask the author no, you cannot, without these you are not even a modern army!) and joining US led military campaigns in far away countries like Iraq and Afghanistan (after being trained by NATO instructors to be able to fight in these countries under Western command structures). This is what makes progressive country it seems.
So, as said above, as a side effect rapid militarization, Georgia's government decided to take the country on the path to militarily retake northern republics. Taking into account that army commander in chief was trained in US, army was trained by various US/NATO programs (and Israelis) it is very likely that same structures were involved in planning and execution of the attack, especially considering that everyone though Georgian army would run over the rebels in a matter of days.
What happened is that Russians intervened and in a series of short but intensive battles (and long range strikes into the Georgian territory) Georgian army was pushed back, losing infrastructure, combat equipment and giving Russians excuse to deploy their troops to stay in the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions for years to come.
Day by day descriptions of battles, very good analysis and identifications of errors on both sides (especially Russian since in this war they were the heavy hitters) are truly good (comments from the Russian military side that author quotes truly showed the functional gaps in the Russian military at the time). For this book would be 4 stars.
What takes one star is Russians-did-it (although they were taken by complete surprise at the beginning - again author's reasoning is very interesting) and constant, unnecessary and really disappointing jabs at rebel republics (I mean imagine situation where Ossetian professional Alania battalion, part of peace keeping forces in South Ossetia, decided to take arms when Georgian troops came to the South Ossetia capital! I mean can you imagine that type of behavior - they threw off their pose of neutrality as author says :) I mean, you gotta laugh).
For military analysis and profiling of the parties involved this is excellent read. For political information, as is case with any author's book about contemporary Russia, this is not a source to learn anything from.
April 29, 2023
Not to be confused with the Six Day War in the Middle East, Russia's Five Day War: The Invasion of Georgia, August 2008 covers a smaller conflict many in the west may have forgotten/never even knew happened- but in the light of the ongoing Ukrainian War of Independence- its well worth a second look. It has eerie similarities-but a lot of differences with the present conflict, starting with two semi-rebellious provinces getting Russian help. Abkhazia on the Black Sea Coast- and South Ossetia on the Russian border both were semi-autonomous states with strong separatist factions. When the Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili, sought to lance the boil of South Ossetia by using his newly NATO trained army, the Russian Army and Air Force were able to respond in alliance with the South Ossetians, and then invade the country further, in a humbling come down for the Georgians. Mark Galeotti, an academic and Russia Expert, gives us the run down, straight, no mixer, with my only complaint being the dearth of smaller maps/diagram of the action. Otherwise the book is full of colour pictures and really nice illustrations from the great Johhny Shumate.
A few key mis-steps (like not sealing the Roki Tunnel) and failing to factor in Russia's air superiority , cost the Georgians dearly, as they were ready for the Ossetians- but not the Russians in force. It is clear that the Russians under Medvedev/Putin had a prearranged plan to retaliate, as even with some command and logistical snafus, the Russians took less than a day to respond. Their taking of Abkhazia too- where Georgia did not plan activity, shows their intent. In this case the Russians were able to use their mass and material advantages (the Georgian Army was still in transition to Western techniques) as well as Air superiority to cow the Georgians- perhaps part of their more recent overconfidence in facing the Ukrainians. The West, too clearly needed to be paying more attention to this struggle and supporting Georgia more effectively- although with a massive financial crisis going on- we might be excused for some of our failings in this case. It's a fascinating conflict- and I really appreciated Dr. Galeotti bringing me up to date on another of the Post-Soviet conflicts on the Russian periphery. A nice package on a little known recent war.
The only adult themes are political and there are no graphic injury passages, so this is a good book for the Junior Reader over 12/13 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/military Enthusiast, this is a pretty strong package , except for there being only one map in the book. The Gamer gets an order of battle for both sides, uniform guidance, and a really strong narrative flow. The modeler gets a lot of good colour shots from the period, and of course some guidance on palette from Mr. Shumate's fine illustrations. The Military Enthusiast gets a good introductory work on a recent conflict that may have escaped prior notice. It's a classic Osprey approach to recent news/history- the book brings you up to date really fast.
A few key mis-steps (like not sealing the Roki Tunnel) and failing to factor in Russia's air superiority , cost the Georgians dearly, as they were ready for the Ossetians- but not the Russians in force. It is clear that the Russians under Medvedev/Putin had a prearranged plan to retaliate, as even with some command and logistical snafus, the Russians took less than a day to respond. Their taking of Abkhazia too- where Georgia did not plan activity, shows their intent. In this case the Russians were able to use their mass and material advantages (the Georgian Army was still in transition to Western techniques) as well as Air superiority to cow the Georgians- perhaps part of their more recent overconfidence in facing the Ukrainians. The West, too clearly needed to be paying more attention to this struggle and supporting Georgia more effectively- although with a massive financial crisis going on- we might be excused for some of our failings in this case. It's a fascinating conflict- and I really appreciated Dr. Galeotti bringing me up to date on another of the Post-Soviet conflicts on the Russian periphery. A nice package on a little known recent war.
The only adult themes are political and there are no graphic injury passages, so this is a good book for the Junior Reader over 12/13 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/military Enthusiast, this is a pretty strong package , except for there being only one map in the book. The Gamer gets an order of battle for both sides, uniform guidance, and a really strong narrative flow. The modeler gets a lot of good colour shots from the period, and of course some guidance on palette from Mr. Shumate's fine illustrations. The Military Enthusiast gets a good introductory work on a recent conflict that may have escaped prior notice. It's a classic Osprey approach to recent news/history- the book brings you up to date really fast.
April 16, 2025
A Decent Succinct High-Level Overview of the War
Unfortunately there is a paucity of literature available on this war. This book fills that gap. In addition, it fills it quite well. The book provides background and reasons for the war, a good narrative of how it played out and what the major strengths and weaknesses were for each side (for the Georgian poor planning, high-level command and poor communications while for the Russian the poor state of the army, high-level command and poor communications and command and control).
The weaknesses of the book, due to its brevity, (it is only 62 pages in length, about a third or so consisting of various types of illustrations such as photographs, maps, drawings, etc.) is that it only touches upon many aspects it covers as opposed to covering them in depth. A second weakness is that although the book provides many specific facts (i.e. exact number of tanks lost, weapons captured, etc.) there are no sources provided in footnotes or in any other way whatsoever. This is, unfortunately, a characteristic of all books in Osprey Publishing’s “Elite” series. This is a serious disservice to both the writer and reader (hope someone from Osprey Publishing is reading this).
In short, the book provides a very good high-level and succinct overview of this war that fills a gap in the literature. Four stars.
Unfortunately there is a paucity of literature available on this war. This book fills that gap. In addition, it fills it quite well. The book provides background and reasons for the war, a good narrative of how it played out and what the major strengths and weaknesses were for each side (for the Georgian poor planning, high-level command and poor communications while for the Russian the poor state of the army, high-level command and poor communications and command and control).
The weaknesses of the book, due to its brevity, (it is only 62 pages in length, about a third or so consisting of various types of illustrations such as photographs, maps, drawings, etc.) is that it only touches upon many aspects it covers as opposed to covering them in depth. A second weakness is that although the book provides many specific facts (i.e. exact number of tanks lost, weapons captured, etc.) there are no sources provided in footnotes or in any other way whatsoever. This is, unfortunately, a characteristic of all books in Osprey Publishing’s “Elite” series. This is a serious disservice to both the writer and reader (hope someone from Osprey Publishing is reading this).
In short, the book provides a very good high-level and succinct overview of this war that fills a gap in the literature. Four stars.
April 11, 2023
Well written and very insightful look into the Russo-Georgian War in 2008. I have only one complaint and that is an amazing lack of maps, which removes one star from my rating. The book has one overview map that lacks many of the roads, towns, valleys, ridges, and most other landmarks. This makes attempting to reference locations and movement nigh on impossible and leaves the reader in the dark on actual maneuvers and places where the referenced actions are taking place.
June 4, 2023
An excellent overview of the Russo-Georgian War. Galeotti covers the war from political strategy to battlefield tactics, including attention to the naval and air wars. One might ask Osprey why this volume landed in the Elite series rather than the Campaign series, but that is a trifle. The illustrations are up to Osprey's usual high standards.
March 29, 2023
Something never change.
May 15, 2024
A packeged read for maximum information in 64 pages. Great overview with some important detailed information.
March 28, 2023
Much more a description of military operations than the political context.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews