Major Genadi Chastiakov, assistant to the head of the Ukrainian Army, Valeri Zaluzhni, died when a grenade he had received from colleagues in the Armed Forces on the occasion of his birthday exploded in his home when he was showing his family a grenade, an investigation has established. official announced today by the Ministry of the Interior.
The news of Chastiakov's death had been announced yesterday by the head of the Armed Forces himself, Valeri Zaluzhni, who paid tribute to his subordinate and promised that what happened would be clarified.
“He returned home from work with gifts from his colleagues. "He took out a gift box containing several grenades and showed one of the ammunition to his son," Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klimenko explained in a statement, adding that the grenades were "of a new Western model."
According to Klimenko, Chastiakov's 13-year-old son began pulling on the ring. Shortly after, his father took the grenade and tore off the ring, “causing the tragic explosion.”
The authorities are also investigating the grenades that did not explode and have identified the victim's partner who gave him the gift. “Investigations continue,” Klimenko said. According to Ukrainian media, Chastiakov turned 39 this Monday.
On the other hand, Ukraine has suspended until the investigation into what happened to the commander of the 128th Separate Mountain Infantry Brigade, which lost 19 men earlier this month when a Russian missile hit the awards ceremony that had organized near the front.
“The brigade commander has been suspended for the duration of the investigation,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address to the nation last night.
Zelensky said he had received reports about the events - which have caused outrage in Ukraine due to the irresponsibility of holding such an event in an environment under permanent enemy surveillance - from the Army, the Ministry of Defense and the secret service.
“The whole situation is being analyzed minute by minute, and we will find out who exactly violated the rules on the safety of people in the area accessible to enemy aerial reconnaissance,” added the head of state.
