06 August 2008, 21:29
Georgian units concentrated near the village of Dmenis in South Ossetia
Additional units of Georgian armed forces are concentrated near the village of Dmenis in South Ossetia which was subjected to intensive shelling from large-caliber guns, reports Ibraghim Gasseyev, first deputy minister of defense of South Ossetia.
According to Gasseyev, approach of armored machines, artillery and personnel from the territory of Georgia has been registered. Apart from Dmenis, the villages of Sarabuk and Satikar, as well as outskirts of Tskhinval, as being shelled.
According to Gasseyev, as cited by "Interfax", residents of Dmenis are hiding in cellars and it is impossible, even approximately, to count losses. "Officers of the SOR armed forces have been ordered to give an adequate response to the Georgian shelling ", added the agency's interlocutor.
The head of the Dmenis village administration informs the "Rek" agency that, as a result of shelling, serious head wounds have been inflicted by shell fragments to a local resident, they try to give him medical aid. According to the administration head, the shelling intensity subsides at times but the shelling continues.
According to the South Ossetia Ministry of Defense and Emergencies, the recent shelling has resulted in casualties as well, reports RIA Novisti. 20% of buildings have been destroyed in Dmenis. According to the ministry representative, it is supposed that shelling is done from the Georgian village of Eredvi.
Meanwhile, the Georgian MoFA press and information department, in its commentary disseminated on the night of August 6, calls the armed units of South Ossetia "bandit units" and claims that the Georgian party only responds to the shelling from South Ossetia.