On 6 November, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, reported the tragic death of his assistant, Major Hennadii Chastiakov, on his birthday.
In a statement on Telegram, Zaluzhnyi said Chastiakov died “under tragic circumstances at home in a family circle” when an unknown explosive device detonated in one of his birthday gifts.
“Indescribable pain and a heavy loss for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and for me personally,” Zaluzhnyi wrote. “Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Hennadii has been a reliable shoulder for me, devoting his life to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the fight against Russian aggression.”
Chastiakov’s wife said the explosive device that detonated in her husband’s hands was in a gift bag he had brought home, a source close to the investigation told the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet.
Citing the wife’s account, the source said Chastiakov brought home a gift bag containing a bottle of alcohol and souvenir grenade-shaped shot glasses. The explosion occurred when he opened the package.
Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident. No further details were provided.
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