18 years since the battle of Shindisi

Eighteen years have passed since the Battle of Shindisi, one of the most heroic and tragic episodes of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

On August 11, 2008, a platoon from Georgia's 2nd Infantry Brigade came under attack by Russia's 53rd Army. The Georgian soldiers fought against vastly superior forces until they ran out of ammunition. The wounded soldiers who remained reportedly chose death over surrender and detonated the last remaining grenade.

Seventeen Georgian soldiers were killed in the unequal battle with Russian forces:

Aleksandre Oniani, Emzar Tsilosani, Vepkhvia Jishkariani, Zviad Katsadze, Teimuraz Beridze, Ilia Gabunia, Ilia Sheklashvili, Irakli Janelidze, Kakha Koshadze, Levan Melkadze, Marlen Baramia, Mikheil Dvalishvili, Nikoloz Porchkhide, Roman Zoidze, Ruslan Tsuladze, Feliks Kakauridze and Shmagi Kupatadze.