A tragic incident occurred in Ukraine when a close adviser to the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army died after a grenade hidden among his birthday gifts exploded, according to a report by BBC. The adviser, Major Hennadiy Chastyakov, 39, had just returned to his flat with presents from his colleagues and was opening them with his son when the explosion occurred. Ukraine’s interior minister, Igor Klymenko, explained that the son had initially taken the grenade in his hands and began turning the ring. However, the serviceman quickly took the grenade away from his child and pulled the ring, resulting in a devastating explosion. The major’s 13-year-old son also suffered serious injuries.
The news of Major Chastyakov’s death was confirmed by General Valery Zaluzhny, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, on his Telegram page. General Zaluzhny expressed his deep sorrow and referred to the incident as an “inexplicable pain and a heavy loss.” He described Major Chastyakov as his aide and close friend, praising his dedication to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the fight against Russian aggression. General Zaluzhny extended his condolences to the major’s wife and four children.
Initially, the death was believed to be an assassination using a booby-trapped gift. However, further details emerged when Major Chastyakov’s wife revealed that the fatal gift was a package containing a bottle of alcohol and shot glasses in the shape of grenades. When the police searched their apartment, they discovered five more live grenades. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the police have identified a fellow soldier as the person who gave the fatal gift. An investigation is currently underway.
Although attacks targeting Ukrainian leaders have been relatively rare since Russia’s invasion, there have been several attacks on nationalists, which Russia has blamed on Ukraine. The incident involving Major Chastyakov’s death serves as a tragic reminder of the ongoing tensions in the region.
