TSKHINVAL, August 7. /TASS/. The first form of hybrid warfare employed by Western countries was used during Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia in August 2008, in which Ukraine also played an active role, Eduard Kokoity, who headed the republic in 2008, told TASS in an interview.

"We know very well that in 2008, it wasn’t just Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia - it was the first form of hybrid warfare by the collective West against the small Ossetian people. But for some reason, those who stood behind Georgia failed to take into account the spirit and resilience of our people, and that was their main miscalculation. I would like to note that Ukraine actively supported [Mikhail] Saakashvili’s regime at that time. Ukrainian units also fought against us, and we have evidence of that. Our soldiers reported to me how they destroyed several sabotage groups consisting of Ukrainians on the territory of South Ossetia," Kokoity said.

He noted that the facts and reports from the republic’s intelligence services say that South Ossetia was not only bombed by Ukrainian missiles, but that Ukrainian specialists also operated them.

"But, in addition to Ukraine, many states, including NATO countries, took part in Georgia’s armed aggression against South Ossetia. I repeatedly stated at the time that NATO countries are arming Georgia and turning it into the most militarized state in the post-Soviet space, and they will bear the same responsibility as Georgia does towards South Ossetia for preparing this aggression. After all, it was American NATO instructors who trained Georgian units, they armed Georgia, and they conducted exercises," Kokoity said.

On the night of August 8, 2008, Georgia launched an armed attack on South Ossetia. Russia came to the defense of the republic’s citizens, many of whom had by that time obtained Russian citizenship, and its peacekeepers, who had been working in the region since 1992. As a result of the five-day military conflict, more than 1,000 people died, 72 of whom were Russian military personnel. On August 26, 2008, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another former Georgian autonomous region, Abkhazia.