Partially exploded military ammunition depot de-mined in central Georgia

A partially exploded military ammunition depot in the village of Skra in the municipality of Gori in central Georgia is now safe and secure after NATO-trained Georgian soldiers have completed a three-year project to clear mines and unexploded munitions from the site.

The project officially ended yesterday and the area was handed over to the Gori municipality to develop a recreational zone on the territory.

NATO launched a project to clear the site following a request for assistance from Georgia. Photo: MOD's press office.

The military ammunition depot in Skra was damaged during the August 2008 Russia-Georgian war. NATO launched a project to clear the site following a request for assistance from Georgia in 2012.

The project was implemented to clear all hazards from collapsed underground bunkers and return the land to the local authorities.

If left uncleaned, the area could have posed a threat to the central Georgian highway as well as a nearby international rail line and nearby villages.

As part of the project, Georgia was gifted special equipment for de-mining. Photo: MOD's press office. 

In addition to the cleaning works, the project envisaged specialist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training to Georgian servicemen.

The cost of the project was €1.3 million and was co-financed by Lithuania and the Czech Republic.