Flanked by two Russian flags, President Dmitry Medvedev announced he had signed decrees recognising the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two regions at the heart of the conflict that erupted this month in Georgia. “This is not an easy choice, but it is the only way to save the lives of people,” Mr. Medvedev said in a nationally-televised address.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said late yesterday that Russian tanks were on Georgian territory outside South Ossetia and Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said a “massive” aerial bombardment of the central Georgian city Gori was taking place.