The Occupied Tskhinvali Region
An Amendment to the Protocol of an Agreement
On May 19, 2026, the de facto defence minister of the occupied “South Ossetia,” a Russian officer named Yury Yarovitsky, signed an amendment protocol to the existing protocol of an agreement between Russia and “South Ossetia” “on Co-financing and Gradual Increase of Salaries and other Social Benefits for South Ossetian Armed Forces Personnel.” This agreement had initially been signed in 2022, however, the full official text has yet to be published by either Russia or the “South Ossetian” authorities.
The new protocol followed a new comprehensive agreement made between Russia and occupied “South Ossetia” “on the Deepening of Allied Cooperation,” signed on May 9, after the celebration of the “victory parade” in Moscow. According to the so-called ministry of defence of “South Ossetia,” this new amendment protocol advances military integration and coordination between Russia and the occupied Tskhinvali region, expands Russian financial and institutional support for the so-called “South Ossetian” army, and approximates local remuneration and compensation to the Russian standard.
The Russian de facto defence minister of Georgia’s occupied region claims that apart from remuneration and other social benefits, the amended protocol will see Russia expanding cooperation in combat training, logistics and material support, and equipment modernization. According to the publication, the document is part of a broader and longer-term “strategy,” and aims to build a more sustainable “Ossetian” defence ministry. It also seeks to further improve integration with the Russian armed forces within the framework of the treaty on “Alliance and Integration” between the two subjects.
The Context behind the New Protocol
Russia has already effectively absorbed the so-called armed forces of “South Ossetia,” a process that accelerated in the late 2010s when Russia allowed Ossetian military servicemen to serve at its 4th Military Base in the Tskhinvali region. The Ossetian de facto ministry retains only a few armed units directly subordinating to itself: the “Special Purpose Unit” and the “Honorary Guards Unit,” which the Ossetian “ministry” frequently promotes as its “elites.”
In 2018, the “ministry” published promotional fliers and informative articles on the benefits, for Ossetians, of serving on Russia’s 4th Military Base. Effectively, the “ministry” itself pushed the locals to transfer into the military service of the Russian Armed Forces. The fliers provided data on potential remuneration and other social-material benefits.
The flier published by the Ossetian “ministry” depicts the potential material benefits of serving in the Russian Army. For instance, a commander of a mortar unit will receive a monthly salary of 33,000 to 48,000 Russian roubles (approximately $530 in 2018; deflated to around $470 today). It should be noted that the flier’s JPG file on the website is called “agitacya,” which in this context means “campaigning using propaganda.” The newly amended protocol will likely approximate the “Ossetian army” salaries to the Russian standard given above.
“Victory Parade” in the Occupied Tskhinvali
On May 9, 2026, the de facto government of the occupied Tskhinvali region celebrated the “Victory Day of the Great Patriotic War.” A parade was held in the city centre, with all local and deployed Russian armed and law-enforcement agencies taking part, including the de facto ministries of defence, internal affairs, “South Ossetia” KGB, Russian FSB’s Border Force, and Russia’s 4th Military Base. The de facto minister of defence, Russian officer Yuri Yarovitsky, walked the streets of Tskhinvali with his deputies, holding photographs of their ancestors who had participated in World War 2.
Preparations for the Summer Training Period
Unlike in previous months, the so-called Ossetian armed forces did not participate in medium and large scale fire drills and exercises in May. Yet, Russian officer and de facto defence minister of “South Ossetia,” Yuri Yarovitsky, personally oversaw the preparatory activities for the next training period, ensuring that the military has all the equipment needed for the various upcoming drills.
Search and Rescue Mission for a Russian Propagandist Director
On May 21, Russian director Anna Tits held the screening of her latest propaganda documentary about ethnic Ossetians fighting for Russia in the full-scale war in Ukraine. The film is called “On the Road to Truth and Justice,” where the director depicts the “heroism” and “dedication” of Ossetians who fight on the “right side” in the “Special Military Operation.” Following the event, Anna Tits, intoxicated with alcohol, fell into the Liakhvi River and disappeared. The Ossetian de facto government organised a search and rescue mission, in which the Ossetian military was involved. The Ossetian side asked the relevant Georgian authorities for support. Anna Tits’ body was found days later in the river.
Occupied Abkhazia
New de facto Defence Minister in Abkhazia
Beslan Tsvizhba wearing the Ribbon of Saint George. Source: apsnypress
On May 5, 2026, de facto President Badra Gunba signed a decree dismissing Vladimir Anua from the post of “defence minister” of Abkhazia and appointing Colonel General Beslan Tsvizhba as his successor.
Born on March 30, 1970, Tsvizhba began his military career serving in the Soviet Army between 1988 and 1990, in the Volga-Ural Military District. He later enrolled in the history and law faculty of the Abkhazia State University in 1990, but in January 1992, joined the “Abkhazian Guard” as commander of a “special forces” company of the separatist militants armed and trained by Russia. Tsvizhba participated in the war in Abkhazia in 1992–1993, and was awarded the Order of Leon.
Between 1993 and 1994, he served as deputy head of the combat training department of the so-called defence ministry, before becoming chief of air defense forces in 1994. He completed a history degree at the Abkhaz State University in 1998. From 2001 to 2005, he led the ministry’s air defense branch and commanded the 3rd Air Defence Division, later serving as a commander of air defence from 2005 to 2008. In parallel, he furthered his education, graduating from the Combined Arms Academy of the Russian Armed Forces in 2008. He subsequently headed the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff from 2008 to 2010, and has served as first deputy defence minister since 2010. In 2011, he continued military studies at the General Staff Academy of the Russian Armed Forces. Beslan Tsvizhba holds the rank of colonel general and is married with three children.
The Monthly Report
On May 29, the so-called ministry of defence of Abkhazia published its monthly report on the agency’s activities in May. Like the Ossetian “defence ministry,” the Abkhazian armed authority did not conduct any significant military drills or training throughout the month. The main highlight for May was the Abkhazian representative team participating in a competition in Moscow in tactical shooting, where, according to the publication, they won a silver medal.
Abkhaz conscripts taking an oath. Source: apsny.land
Aside from the competition in Moscow, the Abkhazian de facto authority organised another draft of conscripts. The newcomers had to undergo a “junior soldier’s” initial preparation course prior to taking their oath. Following the ceremony, the conscripts were sent to different units for military service.