Five years ago, late on August 7, 2008, Georgian troops rolled into the breakaway region of South Ossetia in an attempt to reclaim the territory from what Tbilisi said was growing Russian militarization. The conflict erupted into a brief war between Russia and Georgia that left hundreds dead, drove thousands from their homes, and destroyed villages and towns.
# RFE/RL TIMELINE: Tensions between Georgia and Russia had been simmering since the breakup of the Soviet Union, boiling over into open conflict when a Russian government furious about Georgia's growing ties with the West rebuffed President Mikheil Saakashvili's plans to reintegrate the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia into Georgia.
# ANALYSIS: Correspondent Robert Coalson looks at how the South Caucasus has changed in the wake of the conflict, and where it may be headed.
# WATCH: For Georgians living in the Shida Kartli region, near the administrative border with South Ossetia, the continued presence of Russian troops and new barbed-wire fences has meant restricted movement and a constant fear of detention. But many say that there is no resentment between them and the civilians on the other side.
# IN PICTURES: As fighting broke out, the Georgian city of Gori was at the heart of the battle. Georgian Service correspondent Koba Liklikadze captured these images of the conflict.
Follow all news from our Georgian Service online and via Radio Tavisupleba. For breaking news in all RFE/RL regions find us on Twitter and Facebook.
# RFE/RL TIMELINE: Tensions between Georgia and Russia had been simmering since the breakup of the Soviet Union, boiling over into open conflict when a Russian government furious about Georgia's growing ties with the West rebuffed President Mikheil Saakashvili's plans to reintegrate the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia into Georgia.
# ANALYSIS: Correspondent Robert Coalson looks at how the South Caucasus has changed in the wake of the conflict, and where it may be headed.
# WATCH: For Georgians living in the Shida Kartli region, near the administrative border with South Ossetia, the continued presence of Russian troops and new barbed-wire fences has meant restricted movement and a constant fear of detention. But many say that there is no resentment between them and the civilians on the other side.
# IN PICTURES: As fighting broke out, the Georgian city of Gori was at the heart of the battle. Georgian Service correspondent Koba Liklikadze captured these images of the conflict.
Follow all news from our Georgian Service online and via Radio Tavisupleba. For breaking news in all RFE/RL regions find us on Twitter and Facebook.