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Russia sent more tanks, troops and rocket launchers in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia this morning amid fears that it is planning a new front against Georgia in the west.

Thousands of Russian troops, dozens of T72 tanks and Hurricane multiple rocket launchers were seen streaming south along the winding mountain roads from Russia, a reporter for the news agency Reuters said.

Vladimir Putin's mastery checkmates the West

Michael Binyon says Russia has been biding its time - but its victory in Georgia has been brutal and brilliant

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• Video: on the front line

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There were also indications that Russia may be planning to open a new front against Georgia from another of its breakaway provinces, the region of Abkhazia to the southwest.

Russian has upped its troop numbers to 9,000 in the Black Sea region, even though peacekeeping agreements set a limit of 2,500.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister, and President Dimitry Medvedev met top generals at the Kremlin today for a council of war over the progress of their military action in Georgia.

Colonel-General Anatoly Nagovitsyn, a member of the Russian General Staff, said today that the army "does not have any task of invading Georgia".

Mr Medvedev said today that a "large part" of the military operation against Georgia was complete, three days after Russia invaded South Ossetia in response to Georgia's ill-fated attempt to seize back control of its rebel province by force. Hundreds of civilians have died in the fighting.

Georgia claims to be observing a ceasefire, but today it was rapidly moving battle-hardened troops up to the frontline near South Ossetia.

The first of the Georgian forces withdrawn from Iraq over the weekend have already arrived in Gori, 15 miles from the South Ossetian border, The Times can confirm, and appear to be in no mood for peace.

"We will drink Russian blood," said Badri, one of the contingent newly arrived from Iraq.

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