By Zurab Kodalashvili Video producer in Georgia

On hearing about our assignment, Georgian officials offered me a trip to the naval base for border troops in Poti.

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When I arrived, the general command of the Georgian army from Tbilisi was there already because of the increasingly desperate situation in the autonomous republic of Ajaria.

There were several military ships on the base and I figured that the biggest one was the Georgi Chereli. I was also told that this ship would most probably go out on patrol on 22 March, our one day of war.

The captain was 28-year-old Zaza Geladze.

Zaza instantly caught my attention. He was young, good-looking and full of energy.

He was born and raised in the south-west Georgian region of Ajaria, in a mountainous village. He has two sisters and a younger brother. His mother died when he was young and they were all raised by their father.

After he graduated from the college of engineering in Tbilisi, he decided to become a navy officer. His career prospects are very good.

Treacherous waters

He had to wait until dark to go on patrol to minimise danger

Zaza's main duty is to protect the territorial waters of Georgia against the infiltration of ships from enemy territory - Abkhazia. Ships, which are coming from the Abkhazian side, often carry smugglers and Abkhazian spies.

After the bloody war between Georgia and Abkhazia, Abkhazia broke away from Georgia 10 years ago. Both sides are still in a state of war. Georgian navy ships frequently come under attack from the Abkhazian military when they sail or go on patrol.

Zaza believes that, one day, Georgians will beat the Abkhazians and recapture lost territory.

It was a very exciting day for Zaza, since he officially went on patrol in the capacity of captain for the first time. He had to wait until dark to go on patrol to minimise danger.

If they were noticed by Akhazians, then they would definitely come under fire.

Since their mission was to sail towards Russian territorial water, they had a Georgian special forces group on board whose job it is to arrest illegal ships or, in a case of attack, fight back.

Zaza was nervous. Several Abkhazian ship were noticed and each time Zaza tried to pursue them. However, each time they managed to hide in Russian waters.

One Day of War was broadcast in the UK on Thursday, 27 May, 2004 at 2100 BST on BBC Two.