Russia said it has sent troops deep into Georgian territory as far as Senaki, as part of its “peace enforcement” operation in South Ossetia.

Senaki is 210 kilometers west of Tbilisi, close to the Abkhaz administrative border. The town is about 150 kilometers from Tskhinvali, the capital of breakaway South Ossetia – far from the conflict zone. A major Georgian military base is located in Senaki.

“The move has been undertaken in an attempt to prevent shelling of South Ossetia by armed Georgian forces and to prevent Georgia carrying out a re-grouping of its forces, as well as to prevent mobilization of additional armed formations and reserve troops, mobilized by Mikheil Saakashvili for the continuation of military actions,” Interfax news agency reported, quoting a Russian MoD representative.