Representatives of the South Ossetian leadership, led by Acting President Marat Kambolov, laid flowers at the monument on the grounds of the former peacekeepers' barracks on the southwestern outskirts of Tskhinval.
Russian Ambassador to the Republic Marat Kulakhmetov, former presidents Leonid Tibilov, Anatoly Bibilov, and Alan Gagloev, members of Parliament led by Speaker Alan Margiev, representatives of ministries and agencies, and ordinary citizens also participated in the commemorative event on the 18th anniversary of the Georgian aggression. Eighteen years ago, Russian peacekeepers were the first to bear the brunt of the Georgian aggressors, demonstrating courage and bravery when the enemy launched a massive Grad rocket attack on South Ossetia in August 2008.
Those gathered also laid flowers at the monument to defender of the Fatherland Oleg Galavanov, call sign "Amur."
The participants honored the memory of Denis Vetchinov, who had died heroically during the armed conflict in South Ossetia in 2008.
Major Denis Vetchinov was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Russia. On August 9, he rescued a group of Russian journalists who, along with a convoy of the 58th Army, were ambushed by the Georgian special forces. He suffered multiple wounds during the battle and died en route to the hospital.
