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Fact-check · Nov 10, 2026 · Pete Hegseth

“20% of their territory is occupied”

MOSTLY TRUE
What the record shows
Russia occupies approximately 20% of Georgia's territory (South Ossetia and Abkhazia), per US State Department and international assessments as of 2024.

Georgia's occupied territory (South Ossetia ~3.9K sq mi, Abkhazia ~3.3K sq mi) represents roughly 18–20% of Georgia's total area.

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From: Secretary Hegseth News Conference

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