peacekeeping forces in
Abkhazia, who led the Russian advance into
Senaki in 2008.|left
Advance and capture (11 August) On 11 August 2008, following the opening of a western front from Abkhazia, Russian forces advanced into undisputed Georgian territory toward Senaki. Russian forces issued an ultimatum to Georgian troops near the Abkhaz boundary to disarm. Georgian forces subsequently withdrew from Senaki, reportedly to avoid confrontation following aerial bombardment. Russian armored columns then advanced approximately 30 kilometers and captured the Senaki military base and airfield. The capture was strategically significant, as Senaki lies on the
main east–west highway and rail line, enabling control over major transport routes and isolating the
Black Sea port of
Poti. According to Russian sources, aircraft also destroyed two Georgian helicopters (reported as Mi-8 and Mi-24) at the airbase during the initial phase of the operation. On 19 August, Russian forces detained 21 Georgian servicemen in
Poti and transported them to Senaki; they were released later the same day in a prisoner exchange. On 25 August, Russian Deputy Chief of the General Staff
Anatoliy Nogovitsyn claimed that Georgian forces had abandoned Senaki, prompting Russian forces to enter the area. == Withdrawal ==