'Take Up Arms': Video Urging Georgians To Fight Russia To 'Reclaim Our Land' Goes Viral

The ripples of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the latter's successful resistance are being felt across the world, but the effect is more profound in Georgia, which shares its border with Russia.

According to reports, a video urging citizens to take advantage of the war in Ukraine and retake the Russian-occupied territories is doing rounds in Georgia.

A video featuring four individuals, claiming to be Georgians, fighting for Ukraine, has gone viral, racking up tens of thousands of views and comments, reported Radio Free Europe.

The men, clad in military fatigues, faces masked by balaclavas, and fingers poised on the trigger of their guns, urge people to "take up arms" against Russians to reclaim South Ossetia and Abkhazia, breakaway regions lost in the 2008 war with Russia.

"It is very hot in Ukraine today, and we Georgians have a unique opportunity to reclaim our land," a man is heard saying in the video. "We Georgians who have been fighting for freedom in Ukraine...are also ready to fight for the freedom of Georgia.... Therefore, we urge you to take up arms and strike at the enemy. We will never have such a chance again," the men added.

Though the identities of the men are unclear, Radio Free Europe reported that Georgian fighters are indeed active in eastern Ukraine since 2014. A volunteer battalion from the Caucasus republic of Georgia has been training and helping Ukrainian civilians in urban combat tactics against Russia since 2014.

While the video saw over 300,000 views within five days of its uploading, the responses are mixed. While a few wanted to "report the provocation," others claimed Georgia is not an aggressor and the "main goal is to end the brutal war and the bloodshed of innocent people as soon as possible."

Georgia had in 2008 made an attempt to recapture the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which had been fighting a separatist war against Georgia in the 1990s. However, Russia sent troops, which ousted Georgian troops. Soon after, Moscow recognized both as independent states and now, maintains a major military presence in both regions.

As for its stance on the Russian invasion, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili has said that he would not join Western sanctions against Russia. He claimed national interests and potential damage to Georgian producers as reasons.

This is despite a widespread public protest against the Russian invasion with thousands taking part in the protest in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities.

However, military analysts too think that any attempt to take on Russia would be unsuccessful. Olesya Vartanyan, a regional analyst from the International Crisis Group, told Radio Free Europe that "any such moves will lead to an open confrontation with the Russian troops stationed in the breakaway regions."