Armed Forces of South Ossetia

The South Ossetian military fought against the Georgian forces in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. At the time of the major Georgian offensive, the bulk of the Ossetian force was concentrated in the settlement of Java to the north of Tskhinvali.[6] According to Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, what thwarted the Georgian operation in the end was the resistance offered by peacekeepers and lightly armed South Ossetian units that stayed behind to defend the capital.[6] Also Russian regular army forces entered the fighting on August 8 and drove deep into Georgia proper, occasionally accompanied or followed by South Ossetian militia who committed serious human rights violations, particularly in the Georgian villages of South Ossetia.[7]

According one estimate, the losses of the South Ossetian military forces, militia, and volunteers in the war amounted to 150 dead.[8][9] According to a 2012 statement by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Russia had been training the South Ossetian militias as part of the Russian General Staff's 2006–2007 plan to rebuff Georgia in case of war.[10]

In March 2015, members of the Parliament of South Ossetia put forward a proposal to dissolve South Ossetia's military and fold it into the Russian Armed Forces, but the proposal was ultimately rejected by South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov and Defense Minister Ibrahim Gassayev. The South Ossetian units were to be incorporated into the Russian military but remain separate units.[11]

On 31 March 2017, defence ministers of the two countries signed agreements whereby some units of the armed forces of South Ossetia would go under Russia′s command.[12]

On March 26, 2022, South Ossetian President Anatoliy Bibilov began sending troops whom have served in units under Russian command to Ukraine to assist Russia with its invasion of Ukraine.[13][14]

• General Staff
• Intelligence Company
• Communications Battalion
• Transport Battalion
• Special Forces Company
• Sniper Company
• Engineering Company
• Security Company
• Guard of Honour
• Military Brass Band
  

  Members of the South Ossetian armed forces during a parade in Tskhinvali in May, 2009

• 10 Battalion
• 11 Battalion
• 13 Battalion
• 15 Battalion
• Tank Brigade
• Logistics Brigade

South Ossetian security forces parading on Theatre Square in full dress uniform.

• 17 Battalion
• 18 Battalion
• 19 Battalion
• 20 Battalion
• 21 Battalion
• 22 Battalion
• 23 Battalion
• 25 Battalion
• 26 Battalion

There are 2,500 active duty soldiers and 13,500 reservist members within the South Ossetian Army (SOA).[15] Training within the SOA is conducted by both experienced South Ossetian troops and members of the Russian Airborne Troops. In August 2009 the SOA and Russia reorganized the 4 Air Mobile Brigade, as a joint forces brigade, which would have an active Russian military base in South Ossetia. This brigade has also been reported as the 4th Guards Military Base (ru:4-я гвардейская военная база). The Russian Airborne Troops are reported to have established an active military base outside of Java, South Ossetia and are reported to have trained SOA recruits since the summer of 2009.

• Dark Green: All Standard South Ossetian Armed Forces Personnel
• Light Blue: Russian Airborne Troops and the joint 4 Air Mobile Brigade in South Ossetia

All uniforms are donated by the Russian Ground Forces, the tri-coloured Flora pattern is standard issue throughout the SOA. It is planned that the SOA will wear a variant of the Ukrainian BDU camouflage.

• IS-2 tank – phased out of service since 1995.
• IS-3 tank – phased out of service since 1995.
• T-10 tank – phased out of service since 1995.
• Grom missile – captured during the Russo-Georgian War. Probably no longer in service.[22]