South Ossetia

Also known as the Tskhinvali Region, South Ossetia is a partially-recognized state/disputed region in the South Caucasus that declared its independence from Georgia in 1990, establishing itself as the Republic of South Ossetia. Following shortly after the declaration of independence, the Georgian government attempted to regain control over the region by force, which led to the South Ossetia War (1991-92). Combat resumed in 2004, and again in 2008, which sparked the Russia-Georgian War and resulted in Ossetian and Russian forces gaining complete control of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast. Only Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru have recognized this independence. It is now considered a region of "frozen conflict," although a separate military force is maintained under the control of the Ossetian government. Georgia maintains that this region is under Russian occupation and still considers it a Georgian territory.

The South Ossetian military forces were initially a loose-knit guerilla formation called the Ossetian Republican Guard (Республиканская гвардия Осетии) which arose in November 1991. With assistance from Russia, a Ministry of Defense formed the National Armed Forces, which revealed its first combat units in February 1993. Approximately 16,000 strong (mostly active reservists), the South Ossetian Armed Forces are trained and supplied by Russia, and consist almost entirely of ground forces (with a few helicopters in support roles). An active military base outside of Java reputedly houses a large Russian Airborne Forces unit.

Camouflage Designs of South Ossetian Forces

• Ground Forces have traditionally worn the "Flora" or Arbuz (watermelon) pattern camouflage pattern.

• Also worn by Ground Forces is the единая маскировочная расцветка (Edinaya maskirovochnaya rascvetka) or EMR pattern, often called "digital flora" or nicknamed Tsifra or Tetris in Russian.

• Border Guard personnel wear the same pixelated design as the Russian FSB Border Guard Service..