Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

Ukrainian Military Officer Dies in Mysterious Birthday Gift Blast

Daniel Kim Views  

UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR
General Valery Zaluzhny, Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. / AFP Yonhap News

An aide to Valery Zaluzhny, the commander of the Ukrainian military, was killed in an explosion from a birthday gift, according to reports from The Washington Post and other outlets on the 6th (local time).

Zaluzhny posted a message on Telegram that day, stating, “My assistant and close friend, Lieutenant Gennady Chastiakov, has died surrounded by his family,” describing it as a “very tragic event.”

According to Zaluzhny, the explosion occurred when an unknown device in one of the gifts Chastiakov received was triggered. Zaluzhny stated, “Gennady, who dedicated his life to the military and fought against Russia’s invasion, has been someone I could rely on since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.” The military has begun investigating the cause of the accident.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said about the initial investigation results, “Lieutenant Chastiakov brought home a gift from a colleague and showed it to his family,” and “he took a grenade out of the gift box and showed it to his son.” According to Klymenko, Chastiakov’s son attempted to turn the pin of the grenade, and Chastiakov snatched the grenade from his son and pulled the pin himself.

Furthermore, according to Minister Klymenko, five identical grenades were found in Chastiakov’s apartment, and the colleague who gave the birthday gift has been identified. Two similar grenades were found at the colleague’s workplace, and an urgent investigation is underway, the minister claimed.

However, some Ukrainian media outlets reported that the gift Chastiakov received contained a bottle with liquid and a glass product that looked like a grenade. An explosion occurred when he tried to open the gift. On social media, claims arose that the incident was not an accident but a deliberate murder based on photos from the scene. Parliament member Mariana Bezula stated, “I do not think he would leave this world carelessly on his birthday.”

The Washington Post also pointed out that many see Zaluzhny, the military commander, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as political rivals. Recently, Zaluzhny admitted in a media interview that the war with Russia is at a stalemate, and new strategies are needed to move forward. Zelensky publicly disagreed with this opinion. The Ukrainian presidential office has not yet released an immediate statement on the incident, reported The Washington Post.

By. Lee Jang Won

Daniel Kim
content@viewusglobal.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[LATEST] Latest Stories

  • Pfizer Ends Obesity Drug Trial After Liver Risk Emerges
  • Not Just Old Age: The Pneumonia That Affected Pope Francis’ Final Years
  • China Just Cranked U.S. Tariffs to 84% — And That’s Not the End of It
  • BMW's Next-Gen EV: The Bold New i3 Touring Concept Revealed
  • LEGO Technic Ferrari SF-24 F1 Car: A 1,361-Piece Tribute to Ferrari’s 2024 F1 Season
  • Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 Just Took the Top Spot in J.D. Power’s EV Ownership Study

You May Also Like

  • 1
    Real Teeth, Grown in a Lab? Scientists Say It’s Closer Than You Think

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Truth About Carbs and Kids: Why Balance Is Everything

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Scabies in the Dorms? Here’s How Fast It Can Spread

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Drank Last Night? Here's Why Skipping the Gym Might Be Smarter

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Think Twice Before Adding Water to Your Shampoo Bottle—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Can Balancing Blood Sugar Help You Lose Weight? Here's Why it Matters

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Scientists Find Brain Switch That Could Help Reverse Memory Loss

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Hugh Jackman Did It for Wolverine. Can You Do It for Your Waistline?

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Fake Beer, Real Buzz? What to Know Before You Sip That Zero-Proof Brew

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Trump Drops 20 Pounds but Still Loves His Fast Food

    LIFESTYLE 

Must-Reads

  • 1
    Real Teeth, Grown in a Lab? Scientists Say It’s Closer Than You Think

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Truth About Carbs and Kids: Why Balance Is Everything

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Scabies in the Dorms? Here’s How Fast It Can Spread

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Drank Last Night? Here's Why Skipping the Gym Might Be Smarter

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Think Twice Before Adding Water to Your Shampoo Bottle—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Can Balancing Blood Sugar Help You Lose Weight? Here's Why it Matters

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Scientists Find Brain Switch That Could Help Reverse Memory Loss

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Hugh Jackman Did It for Wolverine. Can You Do It for Your Waistline?

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Fake Beer, Real Buzz? What to Know Before You Sip That Zero-Proof Brew

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Trump Drops 20 Pounds but Still Loves His Fast Food

    LIFESTYLE 

Share it on...