- A senior Ukrainian military aide was killed by a gift on his birthday
- The gift, consisting of six grenades, was given to him by a comrade
- He was playing with it in his home in Kiev shortly before the sharp weapon went off
A senior aide to Ukraine’s military commander was killed on his birthday after one of his gifts exploded at his home in Kiev on Monday, “seriously injuring” his 13-year-old son.
Major Hennadiy Chastyakov was killed by a fatal explosion that exploded in one of them [his] Birthday gifts,” Valeriy Zaluzhnyy, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said in a Telegram statement.
Photos taken from inside Chastyakov’s home show several grenade-shaped objects lying next to what appears to be a box for a bottle of alcohol, as well as a package from a Ukrainian clothing brand.
According to a Telegram post by Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, the explosion was caused by a gift box containing six grenades that he received from his colleagues and which he began to show off.
He pulled out the ring of the live grenade, causing it to explode.
![Major Hennadiy Chastyakov (pictured) was killed by a fatal explosion that exploded in one of them [his] birthday presents'](https://www.spamchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Ukraines-top-military-aide-killed-by-birthday-bomb-after-gift.jpg "Ukraine's top military aide killed by 'birthday bomb' after gift explodes, his 13-year-old son also 'severely injured' 3")
Major Hennadiy Chastyakov (pictured) was killed by a fatal explosion that exploded in one of them [his] birthday presents’
Photos taken from inside Chastyakov’s home show several grenade-shaped objects lying next to what looks like a box for a bottle of alcohol
Police, who are still investigating the incident, found five more live grenades in Chastyakov’s house.
Ukrainian police have since discovered which of Chastyakov’s fellow soldiers gave him the gift and have since visited his home to take two more grenades from him.
Chastyakov leaves behind his wife and four children. It is currently unknown whether anyone other than his 13-year-old son was injured in the explosion.
Zaluzhnyy, his boss, said of his death: “Unspeakable pain and grave loss for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and for me personally.”
“My deepest condolences go out to the family.”
While some moments of Russia’s invasion may not reflect well on Ukraine, others do, including the moment when the Russian army destroyed one of Putin’s newly built warships with a daring missile strike.
The footage shows the attack on the Butoma shipyard in Kerch, near Putin’s major bridge connecting the annexed peninsula with Russia
According to Russian and Ukrainian media reports, Askold, Russia’s newest missile carrier (pictured), was hit in a missile attack in Crimea on November 4, 2023
The crashed ship was described as a newly built Askold missile ship, one of the most modern in Vladimir Putin’s navy.
Moscow admitted losing a ship in an attack by 13 cruise missiles, but did not say which ship.
The footage shows the attack on the Butoma shipyard in Kerch, near Putin’s major bridge connecting the annexed peninsula with Russia.
Since launching its counteroffensive against Moscow forces this summer, Kiev has stepped up attacks on the peninsula to suppress Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
According to state media, the Russian Defense Ministry said: “On November 4, the Ukrainian army fired 15 cruise missiles at the BE Butoma (Zaliv) shipyard in the city of Kerch.”
“Air defense systems shot down 13 of the cruise missiles.” A ship at the factory was damaged by a hit from an enemy cruise missile.
The ministry did not say how badly the ship was damaged or which ship was attacked.