In a tragic turn of events, a close aide of Ukraine’s armed forces head, Valery Zaluzhny, was killed when a grenade gifted to him spontaneously exploded. The incident occurred when Major Hennadiy Chastyakov, 39, returned to his apartment with presents from his colleagues and started opening them with his 13-year-old son. Unfortunately, as the son turned the ring on the grenade, it detonated, resulting in the death of Maj Chastyakov and leaving his son severely wounded.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko described the incident as a “tragic accident,” adding that the serviceman had taken the grenade from the child and pulled the ring, causing the explosion. Authorities have urged the public to wait for the conclusions of an official investigation. Initial reports suggest that the explosion was due to careless handling of ammunition, as five more grenades were discovered in the flat. These additional grenades were revealed to be a gift from a colleague in the army.
Pictures from the scene depicted other grenades scattered on the floor alongside gift bags. Allegedly, Maj Chastyakov had brought the grenades home in a bag that also contained a bottle of whisky. Reports suggest that his colleague had given him the bottle, saying, “It’s hard to surprise you: That’s why I’m giving you combat grenades and a bottle of good whisky.”
The death of Maj Chastyakov is yet another blow to the Ukrainian military, coming just days after 19 soldiers were killed in a Russian missile strike during an awards ceremony near the front line in Zaporizhzhia. Criticism was widespread, with many questioning the decision to hold the ceremony in a dangerous area.
While some pro-presidential figures attribute Maj Chastyakov’s death to negligence, others have raised questions about the official cause of the explosion. Speculation suggests that it might have been an attack targeting Gen Zaluzhny himself, assuming that he might have attended the birthday celebrations.
The situation on Ukraine’s front lines against Russia’s invasion forces has been a topic of concern. Gen Zaluzhny recently expressed his view that the technology level has created a stalemate akin to that witnessed in World War One. However, both the Kremlin and President Volodymr Zelensky denied that a stalemate had been reached, suggesting that differing opinions exist within the Ukrainian population.
Addressing the nation, President Zelensky acknowledged the fatigue and differing opinions among Ukrainians but urged them to come together and avoid disputes during this challenging time. He also announced that the presidential elections scheduled for next spring would be postponed due to the ongoing war and martial law.
The unexpected explosion serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by military personnel and the need for strict handling protocols and safety measures when dealing with weapons and ammunition. It also highlights the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the toll it is taking on the country’s armed forces.
