Ukraine Appoints Ambassador to Georgia After Four Years of Vacancy

2026-01-27 - 08:41

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Mykhailo Brodovych as Ukraine’s ambassador to Georgia, nearly four years after Kyiv recalled its diplomat over Tbilisi’s stances amid Russia’s full-scale invasion. President Zelenskyy signed the relevant decree on January 26. According to Ukrainian media reports, Brodovych has worked at Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry since 1996. He has served as a consul at Ukraine’s Consulate General in Istanbul, consul general in Kraków, Poland, and as Ukraine’s ambassador to Slovenia from 2015 to 2022. The ambassadorial post had been vacant for nearly four years after Kyiv recalled its previous envoy in March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the time, Zelenskyy cited what he described as the “immoral position” of then–Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili’s government regarding sanctions against Russia, as well as its decision to bar Georgian volunteers from traveling to Ukraine. Relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi have been strained for years, including over Tbilisi’s dissatisfaction with figures linked to the former United National Movement administration holding positions in the Ukrainian government. Tensions worsened following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Kyiv expressing concern over Tbilisi’s controversial stances, including statements by Georgian officials suggesting Kyiv’s responsibility for failing to prevent the war. Georgian authorities have said they supported Ukraine in international forums and provided humanitarian aid, but refused to go further in demonstrating support for their erstwhile close ally. Relations further deteriorated in June 2023, when Zelenskyy asked Georgian ambassador to Ukraine, Giorgi Zakarashvili, to leave within 48 hours for consultations over the treatment of former Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, who also holds Ukrainian citizenship. In September 2024, Ukraine recalled its temporary chargé d’affaires in Georgia, Mykhailo Kharyshyn, with newly appointed Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha citing his “complete lack of understanding of the realities of diplomacy in a wartime state.” Since 2025, Roman Yakovenko has served as Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires ad interim in Georgia. Also Read: 29/12/2025 – Georgia Sends Generators to Ukraine, Extends Support Program for Ukrainians 16/12/2025 – Georgia to Sign Convention Launching Claims Commission for Ukraine 19/08/2024 – Ukraine Diplomat Says Kyiv Expects Tbilisi to Make First Step for Restoring Relations 04/07/2024 – Georgian MFA Regrets “Extreme Escalation” From Kyiv 22/04/2021 – Georgian Ambassador Returns to Kyiv After Year-Long Hiatus