10 years have passed since the Battle of Shindisi - a life sacrificed for the homeland

The heroes of Shindisi who died on August 11, 2008 are remembered once again today. Exactly 10 years ago, 17 Georgian soldiers lost their lives in an unequal battle near Shindisi.

At 10 am on August 11, 2008, the 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian 53rd Army was preparing to leave Tskhinvali. Among the soldiers was a certain Drozdov, who, according to the battalion commander (Grigory Kharitonov), had a Georgian friend in Saratov.

The army was heading towards Nikozi, when suddenly the column came under fire from Georgian artillery.

The headquarters company of the 2nd Brigade was heading towards Gori from the village of Keltseula. They had no communication and the company leadership did not know that no Georgian units were present before Gori.

Near the village of Shindi, the company noticed tanks, one of the tanks had a Georgian flag attached to it, which the Georgians also noticed and continued their journey without any fear. Suddenly, near the railway, a deafening sound was heard, the first and last cars of the column burst into flames, the people inside did not have time to get out... The company commander realized that the tanks were Russian, and the flag was a decoy.

At that time, Kharatnov was informed by radio that a Russian group had ambushed Georgians near Shindi and were asking for help. Kharatnov headed towards Shindi with his soldiers.

The Georgian soldiers offered incredible resistance to the Russian soldiers who arrived in Shindi. Kharatnov was forced to call for another support group and heavy equipment via radio.

The clash lasted for more than an hour. Although during this time the Russian units requested assistance twice, the numerical superiority paid off.

A total of 17 Georgians were killed in the unequal battle of Shindisi, and almost all types of weapons were used against them, from 125mm tanks to mortars, various cannons, and machine guns.

Today, everyone knows these soldiers as the heroes of Shindisi.

These are the names and surnames of these heroes: Mikheil Dvalishvili, Malkhaz Abashidze, Amiran Shainidze, Aleksandre Oniani, Ruslan Tsuladze, Zviad Katsadze, Ilia Gabunia, Roman Zoidze, Kakha Koshadze, Emzar Tsilosani, Felix Kakauridze, Vepkhia Jishkariani, Marlen Baramia, Ilia Sheklashvili, Irakli Janelidze, Shmagi Kupatadze, Nikoloz Porchkhidze.

Rusudan Kikalishvili