Some 11 Georgian volunteers killed in Ukraine during war with Russia

Some 11 Georgian volunteers have been killed in Ukraine during the war with Russia.

The body of 38-year-old Rati Shurgai, who died near Ukraine’s Izium city, was brought home on May 20. A farewell ceremony will be held on May 24, Novosti-Georgia reports.

Shurgai was married to a Ukrainian woman and permanently lived in Ukraine. He joined the Ukrainian army from the first days of the war.

As far as is known, he is the eleventh killed Georgian volunteer. The rest ten are David Ratiani, Gia Beriashvili, Bakhva Chikobava, David Gobejishvili, David Menabdishvili, Nikoloz Shanava, Arkady Kasradze, Alik Tsaava, Zaza Bitsadze, Tato Bigvava.

Georgian former defence minister Irakli Okruashvili is also among Georgian volunteers who defend Ukraine.

The obstacle to the departure of volunteers was one of the issues that greatly worsened relations between Georgia and Ukraine after the beginning of a war between Russia and Ukraine.