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Draft:Gagra landing

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Gagra landing (1992)
Part of War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
DateAugust 15 – August 19, 1992
Location
Gagra district
Result Georgian victory
Belligerents
 Georgia  Abkhazia
Commanders and leaders
Mkhedrioni icon flag2.png Badri Pirtskeliani
Units involved
Georgian National Guard
Mkhedrioni icon flag2.png Mkhedrioni
Local Georgian formations		 Abkhazia Abkhaz National Guard
Strength
250 paratroopers
4 armored reconnaissance/patrol vehicles
4 armored troop-carriers		 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown 3 dead[1]

The Gagra landing was a landing operation undertaken by the Georgian National Guard and Mkhedrioni and associated battle for the Gagra district in the beginning of the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia. The operation was successful and Georgians took control of the district.

Landing

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On 15 August 1992, a day after beginning of the war, a Georgian naval force supported by armed local Georgian formations landed on Leselidze, a small town in Gagra district near Georgia–Russia border.[1] After securing border, they turned southward to capture Gantiadi and Gagra. By nightfall Georgian forces captured Gantiadi. Georgians utilized aviation to clear Psou-Gagra road and Abkhazians retreated. By 19 August Georgian secured Gagra and Abkhazians retreated to the village of Bzyb. As a result, Georgian forces took control of the whole area. A frontline was formed from the Mamzyshkha Mountain down to Alakhadzi by the sea.[1]

Further development

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Securing Gagra district was of critical importance to Georgians to guard the border and prevent Abkhazians from getting any kind of support from Russia and Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus. Yet Abkhazs still received some reinforcements through the mountain passes of Gudauta District.[1] On 22-23 August, around 1,000 North Caucasian volunteers arrived to Abkhazia to help separatists. On the night of 24 August 1992, the 1,500 Abkhazian-North Caucasian troops attacked the town of Gagra, which resulted in dozens being killed.[2] The Abkhazs launched an offensive in the area of city of Gagra on Mount Mamzyshkha. On 25 August, the battle was raging on the perimeter of the city of Gagra.[1] The strongest offensive-push was undertaken at 10pm. Georgians managed to hold on offensive despite running low on equipment and ammunition, soon receiving reinforcements from Mkhedrioni. Abkhazs made only small gains. After recieving reinforcements, Georgians launched a counter-offensive in the direction of Bichvinta which was held by Abkhaz forces, but Abkhazs managed to hold on and in the end, there were no territorial changes as a result of a week of fierce battles.[1]

On 29 August 1992, Abkhaz separatist leader Vladislav Ardzinba, head of Russia's Committee for Emergencies Sergei Shoigu and Georgian Defence Minister Tengiz Kitovani met in Sochi and agreed on a ceasefire.[3][4] The ceasefire was supposed to involve an exchange of prisoners and hostages, dead bodies, as well as joint Georgian-Russian force to guard railroads and key communcations. It was supposed to begin on 31 August 1992. Moreover, a meeting was scheduled on 3 September between Russian President Boris Yeltsin, head of Georgia's State Council Eduard Shevardnadze and Vladislav Ardzinba in Moscow.[4] However, the fighting resumed on 30 August, a few hours before the ceasefire was presumed to go in force. There was a fighting in a gorge outside the town of Gagra and near the Gumista River. Gagra garrison commander, Badri Pirtskeliani, reported a death of 10 Georgians and 20 being wounded by late afternoon.[5][6] Russian agency reported a death of 35 Georgians, while Abkhazian casualties were not reported.[7] The fighting near Gagra, killing one and wounding two on Georgian side, continued on 3 September, when the new ceasefire agreement was signed between Yeltsin, Ardzinba and Shevardnadze on 3 September, establishing a joint Abkhaz-Russian-Georgian commission to monitor the truce.[8]

Ceasefire implementation

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The ceasefire agreement established peace but was frequently violated. On 20 September, in the worst incident after the ceasefire agreement, the Abkhazian separatists ambushed a car of Georgian militiamen and mountaineers near Gagra, killing seven and wounding 10. Three Georgian soldiers died in a gun battle near Kolkhida a day before.[9]

In early October, Abkhazians launched another offensive and captured Gagra district.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Hewitt, Brian George (2013). The Abkhazians: A Handbook. Springer. p. 148. ISBN 9781136802058.
  2. ^ "Dozens Die in Georgia Battle". The New York Times. The New York Times. 1993-08-27. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  3. ^ "Georgia peace". The Independent. 1993-08-29. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  4. ^ a b "Cease-fire set for Monday in Abkhazia". United Press International . 31 August 1992.
  5. ^ "10 killed in fighting in Georgia". Tampa Bay Times. 1993-08-31. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  6. ^ "Georgian clashes". The Independent. 1993-08-30. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  7. ^ "Yeltsin's Georgia peace mission". The Independent. 1993-08-31. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  8. ^ "Agreement between Abkhazia, Georgia and Russia". UPI. 1992-09-03. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  9. ^ "Separatists ambush Georgian soldiers as fighting erupts in Abkhazia". UPI. 20 September 1993. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  10. ^ Seely, p. 193; Ekedahl and Goodman, p. 267; MacKinlay, p. 89
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