Eighth Georgian fighter dies in Ukraine conflict

A Georgian fighter has been killed in eastern Ukraine while fighting alongside Ukrainian soldiers and defending the country’s territorial integrity.

Georgian-born man Irakli Kutelia was killed yesterday when his vehicle ran over a roadside bomb planted near Donetsk Airport in eastern Ukraine, reported Rustavi 2 television station. 

The explosion also claimed the life of another man and left seven other soldiers badly injured. 

According to Georgian soldiers fighting in Ukraine against Russian and separatists forces, Kutelia served in the 93rd brigade and had Ukrainian citizenship. 

Kutelia’s friends, speaking after the confirmation of his death, said he had no parents.

Kutelia’s death has been confirmed by Georgia’s Ambassador to Ukraine Mikheil Ukleba. 

This was the eighth reported death of a Georgian man resulting from unrest in Ukraine, although an official number has not been released by authorities.