Short answers, pulled from the story.
Vladimir Putin declared that Moscow had prepared homework in case of Kosovo's declaration of independence. He stated Russia would respond accordingly to any Western recognition of Kosovo.
Russia cancelled Commonwealth of Independent States sanctions imposed on Abkhazia in 1996 on the 6th of March 2008. The country declared these sanctions outdated and proceeded to deepen links with the region.
Heads of state of Abkhazia and South Ossetia received a letter from Russian president Putin on the 3rd of April 2008. The letter called separatist leaders presidents and assured them of practical assistance from Russia.
Russian forces shot down multiple Georgian reconnaissance drones over Abkhaz conflict zones in early May 2008. An independent investigation by the United Nations Observer Mission Georgia confirmed that a Russian jet destroyed one drone on the 20th of April 2008.
Russian peacekeepers deployed additional military hardware including BMD-2 airborne combat vehicles and artillery batteries to Abkhazia without Georgia consent. This action violated existing agreements and contradicted basic rules for conducting peacekeeping operations established in 1994.