Draft:The Ukrainian humanitarian operation in Georgia (1993)

The Ukrainian humanitarian operation in Georgia in 1993 was the first peacekeeping mission Ukraine participated independently of international organizations. The operation was aimed at humanitarian aid and assistance to the people affected by the war in Abkhazia, a region in Georgia.

History
In 1992, Georgia became embroiled in armed conflict when Abkhaz separatists, backed by Russia and militants from the North Caucasus, declared independence from the country. As result of the intense phase of the conflict the self-proclaimed Abkhaz Republic was established. The ensuing conflict resulted in widespread violence, displacement of civilians, and humanitarian crises. More than 150 000 Georgians had to flee Abkhazia because of ethnic cleansing of Georgians on its claimed territory. Many attempted to escape to the country's central regions via the treacherous Svaneti mountain passes. However, severe weather conditions, including sudden cold spells and heavy snowfall, exacerbated their plight, resulting in hunger, injuries, and frostbite. There was an attempt by Georgian troops to help on their own. In September 1993, a Georgian Air Force Mi-8T was transporting refugees from Sakeni to Kutaisi. However, during the next return to Sakeni, the helicopter crashed into a mountain due to a technical malfunction. With a scarcity of helicopters for evacuation, the Georgian government sought assistance from partner countries.

Ukraine was the only country that agreed to help. Ukraine mobilized a team equipped with 15 Mi-8 helicopters, 2 Ka-27 helicopters, 1 An-12 and 3 Il-76 manned 131 crew members. Despite encountering hostile conditions, including enemy fire, the team persisted in conducting up to six flights daily. In the fall of 1993, Ukrainian pilots made about 300 flights. They brought up to 8,000 people to peace.

Consequences
The primary outcome was the preservation of numerous lives. Through prompt assistance and evacuation efforts, the operation significantly relieved the plight of numerous civilians entangled in the conflict.

Almost all of the mission members were awarded on behalf of the President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, on May 26, 2003, the Day of Restoration of Georgia's State Independence.

In 2019, a movie about this peacekeeping operation was released. In the same year, the film was also screened in Georgia. Pilots who participated in the operation attended the premiere.

A significant number of Georgian refugees rescued as a result of the operation settled in Ukraine. Many joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2014 with the beginning of the Russian invasion of Crimea and Donbas and in 2022 with the outbreak of a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.