(S (S (BASENP (DT The) (NNP Russian) (NNP Defense) (NN department)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VBN stated) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (BASENP (DT the) (NN push)) (PP (IN into) (BASENP (JJ Georgian) (NN territory)))) (VP (VP (VBZ was) (ADJP (JJ necessary))) (PP (IN because) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (BASENP (DT the) (VBN continued) (NNS attacks)) (PP (IN by) (BASENP (DT the) (JJ Georgian) (NNS troops)))) (PP (IN in) (BASENP (NNP South) (NNP Ossetia)))))))))))) (PERIOD .))