Ukraine Army Chief's Close Aide Dies After Grenade Presented As Birthday Gift Explodes

A close advisor to the Ukrainian army's commander-in-chief lost his life on Monday due to the detonation of a grenade concealed within his birthday presents, as confirmed by authorities.

Telegram

What happened?

An assistant and "close friend" to Ukraine's military commander-in-chief was killed in an explosion at his home after he took a grenade he received as a birthday gift off his child's hand, officials said.

"Under tragic circumstances, my assistant and close friend, Major Gennadiy Chastiakov, was killed ¡­ on his birthday," Gen Valery Zaluzhny posted on Telegram on Monday, saying that an "unknown explosive device detonated in one of his gifts".

Where and when?

The tragic incident happened at Major Gennadiy Chastiakov's home on Monday.

Why?

Chastiakov's death was initially reported as a suspected assassination using a booby-trapped gift until further details emerged.

This comes after the Ukrainian military was rocked by the killing of at least 19 soldiers in a Russian attack during a medal ceremony. There are tensions, too, between the military hierarchy and the government.

How did it happen?

Ukrainska Pravda reported Chastiakov¡¯s wife as saying the grenade was in a gift bag her husband brought home. Some reports suggested the real grenade was amongst novelty gifts shaped to resemble grenades.

According to a statement made on Telegram by Interior Minister Igor Klymenko, Zaluzhny was showing his son a box containing grenades that had been gifted to him.

"At first, the son took the munition in his hands and began to turn the ring. Then the serviceman took the grenade away from the child and pulled the ring, causing a tragic explosion," Klymenko said.

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Who is behind it?

Police had identified a fellow soldier who gave the gift, said Klymenko, and seized two similar grenades. An investigation is underway.

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