TSKHINVAL, August 26. /TASS/. Moscow will continue rendering assistance to South Ossetia, including aid in the sphere of national security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a message of greetings to the leadership and people of the fledgling South Caucasian nation on the tenth anniversary of Russia recognizing the republic as an independent state.

Russia’s Ambassador to South Ossetia, Marat Kulakhmetov read the message out in the course of celebrations of independence in Tskhinval.

"Russia notes with pleasure the achievements South Ossetia has accomplished in building the institutes of its statehood and in various branches of national development," Putin said. "We plan to continue assistance in resolving the national security issue your country is faced with."

He indicated that recognition of the republic’s sovereignty by Russia opened up broad prospects for its independent development. The Russian president also wished South Ossetians peace and prosperity.

Overnight to August 8, 2008, Georgia’s government forces launched a massive armed attack on South Ossetia, a former region of Georgia that had been pressing for independence since the early 1990’s. Russia rose to defend the residents of the region, many of whom had received Russian citizenship by then, as well as its peacekeepers stationed there.

The five days of hostilities claimed more than a thousand lives, including those of 72 Russian military service members. Moscow recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another former autonomous region of Georgia, on August 26, 2008.