Russia was able to unilaterally impose its authority and power over another sovereign nation without much in the way of repercussions from international organizations, effectively achieving independence for two nations (at least as recognized by Russia) and severely weakening the military and economic power of a neighboring country it had feared was going to enter a military pact against Russia. While there was some public outcry around the world at the start of hostilities, they settled down, allowing Russia to interfere in Georgian affairs without a powerful response from NATO, the U.N., or the U.S.

Russia has withdrawn from what it considers “Georgian territory” and now has 7,600 troops in what it considers the independent states of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, showing the world that Russia does have the power to invade sovereign nations and redraw their borders, so long as it picks targets it knows are weaker.