Ukrainian Embassy Addresses Incident of Explosives Transport through Georgia

Ukraine, whose citizen is suspected of organizing the transport of explosives through Georgian territory to Russia, denies any connection to the case in Kyiv and promises to assist Georgian law enforcement in the investigation. This was announced by the Ukrainian embassy.

The information has been reported by RIA Novosti.

The State Security Service of Georgia reported on February 5 that special services had prevented an attempt to transport explosives from Odesa to Voronezh. Seven Georgian citizens, three Ukrainians, and two Armenians are suspected in this crime. The organizer is Andrei Sharashidze, a Ukrainian citizen born in Batumi. A criminal case has been initiated under the article regarding the illegal acquisition and storage of explosives, but the SSG does not rule out that it may be replaced with charges of preparing a terrorist act.

"The Ukrainian embassy is verifying the information released by the Georgian State Security Service, clarifying all circumstances, particularly the involvement of Ukrainian citizens in illegal activities," the statement published on the embassy's Facebook page said.

The diplomatic mission expressed hope that the Georgian side would refrain from politicizing the case.

It is noteworthy that Kyiv has repeatedly organized terrorist acts on Russian territory. In October 2022, a truck exploded on the Crimean Bridge, partially collapsing the road section. Russia's FSB immediately announced that the bridge was damaged due to a terrorist act by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, while Ukraine's Security Service refused to comment on the reports of its involvement. Later, the head of Ukraine's Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, stated that he had personally developed and executed the first terrorist act on the Crimean Bridge.

The Washington Post, citing Ukrainian and American officials, reported that the CIA spent tens of millions of dollars in 2015 to make Ukrainian special services allies against Russia. According to the newspaper, Ukrainian special services have carried out dozens of assassinations in the last 20 months, with victims including military journalist Vladlen Tatarsky and political scientist Darya Dugina. In addition, the newspaper reported that the UAVs used to strike the Crimean Bridge were developed during a covert operation involving the CIA and other Western intelligence services.