Military assigned to barracks in occupied South Ossetia

Amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin-backed leader Anatoly Bibilov has allocated occupied South Ossetia's soldiers to barracks, according to separatist Tskhinvali.

Bibilov ordered full collaboration with the Russian military installation in the seized zone during an emergency session of the extended security council.

"The Russian Federation's Ministry of Defence should get the same tasks as the Republic of South Ossetia's Ministry of Defence," the Moscow-backed leader declared.

Tskhinvali's commander also created "operational headquarters" today, which include defence, police, diplomatic, healthcare, and emergency services, as well as KGB, intelligence, and prosecutor's offices. The HQ will be under his leadership, and his deputies will be the "prime minister" and "parliamentary speaker."

He further stated that servicemen from "the interior ministry" have been sent to barracks and are "ready to carry out any orders issued by the republic's leadership."

Bibilov also charged his security committee (KGB) with coordinating with the border service and the Russian FSB to keep an eye on the situation in the territories bordering Georgia.

Earlier, Anatoly Bibilov, the de-facto leader of separatist South Ossetia, stated that the protection of occupied Donetsk and Luhansk was assured by Russia. He stated that the decision was made to "stop the carnage, save lives in Donbas and Ukraine," as well as to "express open and unwavering support for the Donbas just battle for freedom, national and human dignity, and peaceful labour in their own land."

93 Donbas evacuees taken in by Sukhumi

Sukhumi took in 93 refugees from Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk areas. The "Aytar" boarding house in Sukhumi housed 55 Luhansk residents and 38 Donetsk residents.

On February 23, the individuals were collected by Kremlin-backed Abkhaz officials at Russia's border crossing points in the two provinces. On February 21, Abkhaz leader Bzhania directed “minister of emergency circumstances” Lev Kvitsinia to organise the evacuees' accommodation. On February 18, the seized areas of Ukraine announced the evacuation of population, claiming that Kyiv was planning an attack. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba promptly disputed the charges.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the independence of the "republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk on February 21, while Russia started an unprovoked full-scale war on Ukraine, expanding into Ukrainian territory beyond the previously occupied Donbas and seized Crimea.

Earlier, Anatoly Bibilov, the de-facto leader of separatist South Ossetia, stated that the protection of occupied Donetsk and Luhansk was assured by Russia. He stated that the decision was made to "stop the carnage, save lives in Donbas and Ukraine," as well as to "express open and unwavering support for the Donbas just battle for freedom, national and human dignity, and peaceful labour in their own land."