September, Friday 20, 2024

Army chief Zaluzhny's aide tragically killed by grenade birthday gift amidst Ukraine war


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A tragic incident occurred in Ukraine when a grenade, given as a birthday present, detonated and killed a close aide of Valery Zaluzhny, the head of Ukraine's armed forces. Maj Hennadiy Chastyakov, 39, had just returned home with gifts from his colleagues and was opening them with his son when the explosion happened. Maj Chastyakov lost his life, while his 13-year-old son was seriously injured. The Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, revealed that the boy had started tampering with the ring on the grenade, and when the serviceman took it from him and pulled the ring, the tragic explosion occurred. Authorities described the incident as a "tragic accident" caused by careless handling of ammunition. Following the incident, five more grenades were discovered in Maj Chastyakov's apartment, which were revealed to be gifts from a fellow army colleague, described as a colonel. Pictures from the scene showed additional grenades and gift bags on the floor, indicating that Maj Chastyakov had brought them home along with a bottle of whisky. The head of Ukraine's armed forces expressed his deep grief over the loss and referred to Maj Chastyakov as a reliable support since Russia's invasion began in 2022. This incident adds to the recent setbacks for the Ukrainian military, including a missile strike that killed 19 soldiers during an awards ceremony. The negligence surrounding Maj Chastyakov's death was criticized by a pro-presidential MP who emphasized that grenades are meant to be issued, not given as gifts. However, some Ukrainian commentators have questioned the official explanation, speculating whether it was a deliberate attack targeting Gen Zaluzhny. The commander in chief previously acknowledged the technological stalemate in Ukraine's fight against Russia, while President Zelensky and the Kremlin denied the existence of such a deadlock. Despite the challenges, President Zelensky appealed for unity among Ukrainians and postponed the upcoming presidential elections due to the country being at war.