Ukraine war: Grenade birthday gift kills army chief Zaluzhny's aide
An explosive device given as a birthday present to Ukraine's Armed force commander Valery Zaluzhny as well as one of his close aides was responsible for both their deaths.
Maj Hennadiy Chastyakov, 39 years old and recently returned from visiting friends when the bomb went off. Chastyakov opened presents with his son when the explosion took place.
Maj Chastyakov died and his son, age 13, was seriously hurt.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko claimed that a youngster was currently spinning the grenade's ring to launch it.
"[The serviceman] then took the grenade away from the child and pulled on its ring, leading to its tragic explosion."
Prosecutors confirmed that he accidentally detonated the grenade when trying to take it away from his son.
Explosion at Chaiky Apartment in Kyiv was classified as "tragic accident", according to police, who stated it may have been caused by careless handling of ammunition in its storage.
Later it was discovered that additional five grenades had been left in Mr. Klymenko's apartment by one of his fellow military colleagues as gifts from them.
While searching for an army colonel, two similar grenades were discovered.
Images from the scene showed additional grenades lying on the floor of Maj Chastyakov's apartment, as well as various gift bags containing them. He is believed to have brought them back home along with whisky in bottles.
Ukrainska Pravda reported that one bottle was designed with glasses in the shape of grenades that exploded when its recipient opened the package. According to another report, his friend presented him with the gift and told him "It's hard to surprise you, so here are two gifts: combat grenades and good whisky!"
General Zaluzhny spoke candidly and passionately of the unbearable anguish and loss endured by both Ukrainian soldiers and himself since Russia invaded in February 2022, particularly with regards to Major Chastyakov who served as his "reliable shoulder".
Death of his son has been the greatest setback to Ukraine's military since an attack by Russian military on an awards ceremony near Zaporizhzhia frontline area caused 19 soldiers' deaths, sparking much public outrage that such ceremony could occur near such risky areas. Many expressed displeasure with such ceremony taking place.
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Pro-Presidential Member of Parliament Maryana Bezulha stated Maj Chastyakov's death was caused by carelessness: "I would have never imagined Hennadiy would die as the result of carelessness on his birthday; grenades should not be treated as gifts.
Ukrainian journalists have cast doubt upon the official explanation for the blast, suggesting it may have been planned specifically against Gen Zaluzhny himself; since he may have attended his assistant's birthday celebrations.
The Commander-in-Chief gave an honest appraisal of the situation on Ukraine's frontlines against Russia's invading forces.
"Like World War One, our technology has reached the point of stalemate," according to The Economist. "No profound and beautiful breakthrough will likely occur."
Both the Kremlin and President Volodymr Zelensky have denied that the war had reached a deadlock. Mr Zelensky has made clear there is no stalemate; "Everyone's tired today; however, that does not indicate a stalemate situation," according to him.
On Monday evening, Minister Tymoshenko called upon Ukrainians to come together and avoid unwinding and breaking apart into disputes or other priorities.
He noted that now was not an appropriate time for presidential elections scheduled to take place in April 2019, given Ukraine was in military conflict and under martial law. Instead, President Poroshenko was chosen in 2019.
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