 The Georgian Army retreated to defend Tbilisi, and the Russians took the main highway and the cities of Poti and Gori without a fight, removing or destroying any military equipment left behind, and set up "buffer zones" around the Abkhazian and South Ossetian borders, gradually withdrawing.Georgia's military strength was damaged, but quickly recovered, having reached a strength greater than pre-war levels in 2010.Russia stationed additional forces in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and built new military bases there.