Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) are ready to help Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia if needed, Valery Evtukhovich, the VDV commander, told Interfax news agency on August 2.

“It is up to the [Russian] National Security Council, or the president, to decide whether to send additional troops or not; but anyway Russia will not let anyone offend its citizens, residing in South Ossetia,” the Russian military commander said. “As far as Russian Airborne Troops are concerned, we are ready to go and help peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone if needed.”