MOSCOW. July 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian peacekeepers stationed in the southern safety area of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone have reported flights of four Mi-24 and two Mi-8 helicopters from Georgia towards the Kodori Gorge.
"The peacekeepers serving at the 312th post near the village of Potskhoatseri registered the flights of four Mi-24 and two Mi-8 helicopters towards the Kodori gorge at about 11:30 a.m. Moscow time (0730 GMT). Another four helicopters flying along the same route were spotted at 1:30 p.m. Moscow time (0930 GMT)," Colonel Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Land Forces commander-in-chief, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"The use of helicopter gunships indicates that Georgia is continuing its military build up in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone, all of which "is escalating tensions," Konashenkov said.
Lieutenant General Valery Yevnevich, deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Land Forces, earlier said that Georgia is building up its forces in the upper Kodori gorge. In particular, three military convoys totaling about 90 trucks and cars entered the region on Tuesday.