A former Georgian military serviceman, Giorgi Dzhanelidze, who fought in eastern Ukraine alongside government forces, has been killed in fighting near the village of Shyrokyne near Mariupol, Georgian media outlets said on Sunday.

His death has been confirmed by the head of Georgian Legion in Ukraine, Mamuka Mamuulashvili, the reports said.

Mamulashvili told reporters that this was a third Georgian fighting alongside the Ukrainian army to have been killed in the Ukrainian conflict.

In turn, advisor to the Ukrainian defense minister, Vasyl Budyk, wrote on Facebook that Dzhanelidze server in the Azov battalion. He also confirmed the death of the serviceman.