On January 24, Ukraine's Charge d'Affaires Andrii Kasianov said that the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia does not rule out the possibility of evacuating Ukrainian citizens if they are threatened by the resumption of direct air traffic between Georgia and the Russian Federation and the massive influx of Russians. Kasianov said this in an interview with the Ukrainian publication "Yevropeyska Pravda" [literally "European Truth."] He also argued, “…in case their [Ukrainians’] life and health are threatened. We cannot sit and wait. We will work and provide everything that depends on us for their protection and safety. This is our main priority".

Kasianov added that due to a significant increase in the threat to Ukrainian citizens due to their stay in Georgia, which is related to the abnormally increased influx of Russians, the embassy is facilitating the return of Ukrainian citizens to their homeland.

The reaction from the Georgian side was swift and harsh. Kasianov was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. As he explained to journalists, he is going to the diplomatic office based on an invitation, where the main topic of discussion will be the bilateral relations between Georgia and Ukraine. "We are going to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia based on an invitation. We discuss a wide range of issues related to Georgia-Ukraine bilateral relations. The meeting will be held with the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs", Kasianov said.

Moreover, members of the Georgian government also responded with criticism. According to Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of "Georgian Dream," Kasianov would have had to evacuate Ukrainians from Georgia if Georgia had sent weapons to Ukraine.

"We are used to such irrelevant statements from Kasianov. This is a sad event. I could say that in that case, Kasianov would have probably needed to evacuate Ukrainians from Georgia if we had sent weapons to Ukraine. This would be Georgia's direct involvement in the military conflict. That is right, Kasianov called us to join the war, and in this case, we would have needed to evacuate not only Ukrainians but also Georgians from Georgia. We heard Kasianov's statements regarding the second front, which were very heavy, and this is a continuation of this rhetoric. Everyone knows that the resumption of flights has nothing to do with the influx of Russians into Georgia. We have already run three speculative campaigns in this regard - one was in March, the second was during the summer season, and the third was after the announcement of mobilization, and we proved that all three were empty speculations. No risks were created for the security of our country, including the security of Ukrainians living in Georgia. It was all empty speculation, shameful speculation. Kasianov's statement today is a shameful speculative statement. Flights have been unilaterally stopped by Russia, it was a sanction imposed by them, and if this sanction is canceled by the Russian Federation, it is their decision, and we cannot make any decision about it. The only thing I can say once again is, of course, such a decision will be a benefit for up to a million Georgians living in the Russian Federation," said Kobakhidze.

"Kasianov did nothing with the citizens of Georgia, and now he has reached out to his citizens to cause trouble somehow here. He is trying in vain to make some normal statements until his citizens become our protector, Guram Macharashvili, a member of the majority and a member of "People's Power," told reporters.

The Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Archil Talakvadze, responded to Kasianov's statement on "Imedi" TV. According to the MP, the ambassador's statement does not serve the relations between the two countries.