Georgian authorities have detained two individuals suspected of attempting to smuggle high-powered explosives into the country, allegedly sourced from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), according to local officials. The suspects, who traveled through Romania and Bulgaria before crossing into Georgia via a Turkish border checkpoint, were found with 2.4 kilograms of hexogen—a substance far more potent than TNT—hidden in their vehicle.
The State Security Service (SSG) revealed that one of the detainees confessed to receiving the explosives from SBU operatives in Ukraine, who directed him to deliver them upon entering Georgia. The materials are under investigation for potential use in attacks against Russia or to destabilize Georgia’s upcoming local elections on October 4. SSG Deputy Head Lasha Magradze highlighted claims that the operation could mirror Ukraine’s June “Spiderweb” drone assault, which targeted Russian military assets. While Moscow acknowledged damage to some aircraft, it dismissed Kyiv’s assertions of widespread destruction.
Magradze also noted conflicting evidence suggesting the explosives might have been intended for Georgian opposition groups aiming to incite unrest ahead of the elections. Tbilisi Mayor Kaha Kaladze, a prominent figure in Georgia’s ruling party, echoed concerns about the materials’ potential to fuel chaos in the ex-Soviet state.
Georgia’s proximity to critical Russian energy infrastructure, including the TurkStream and BlueStream pipelines, has heightened tensions. Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukraine of targeting such facilities, labeling these actions as terrorism. The SSG’s investigation continues as authorities grapple with the implications of the detained individuals’ alleged ties to Ukrainian intelligence.
