Ukrainian military experts serviced Georgian air defence systems during conflict with South Ossetia

A year ago Ukrainian experts were busy in the territory of Georgia during the Georgian-Ossetian conflict servicing the "Buk-M1" antiaircraft-missile complexes, which had been earlier sold to this country. These are, under unofficial information, the conclusions of the audit held by the General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine.

Let us remind you that President of Ukraine Victor Yuschenko denied the charges of the Russian party that Ukrainians took part in the war in South Ossetia in August 2008. Earlier, similar denials were made by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and leaders of the UNA-UNSO.

The resource of the Ukrainian media holding "Today" reports that the outcomes of the audit made by the General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine of the legality of arms and military equipment shipments to Georgia were disclosed, on conditions of anonymity, by certain sources in law-enforcement bodies.

According to one of the participants of the audit, the General Prosecutor's Office established a number of rough violations, earlier stated by Valery Konovalyuk, head of the interim commission of the Supreme Rada.

Thus, according to the source, Ukraine had not only sold "Buk-1M" air defence complexes to Georgia at much lower cost than the actual one (allegedly, by 8 and more times), but also sent there a group of civil experts from the city of Balakleya, Kharkov Region, who serviced these complexes, used by Georgians to shell Russian warplanes. The source gave particular names and surnames of the experts, who were in the territory of Georgia on August 5-13 last year, that is, before, during and after the conflict with South Ossetia. These experts deny any participation in the warfare, but admit that they serviced the equipment.

According to the source, the group engaged in the investigation is already facing serious obstacles. The check goes on, but the people are already hinted about firing "under staff reduction."

In her turn, Marina Ostapenko, press secretary of the head of the Security Council of Ukraine, has stated that the data on participation of Ukrainians in the war in Georgia have nothing to do with reality.