Major Gennadiy Chastyakov, an aide to General Valeriy Zaluzhny, the leader of Ukraine’s armed forces, died on Monday, November 6, 2023, in an unexpected explosion at his home. The blast was caused by a grenade, a gift he received for his 39th birthday. The incident also left his 13-year-old son severely injured.
On the evening of the tragic event, Chastyakov was showing his family the set of six new grenades when his teenage son, curious about the items, inadvertently twisted the ring of one of the grenades. Chastyakov took it away from him and the ring was pulled out, triggering the explosive and leading to the Major’s immediate death and causing serious injuries to his son.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko referred to the incident as an accident. The grenades were presented to Chastyakov by a colleague. Following the explosion, the police recovered the remaining five grenades from Chastyakov’s home. Further investigation into the colleague who provided the grenades led to the discovery of two additional similar grenades in the colleague’s office.
Mariana Bezuhla, a Ukrainian lawmaker, emphasized the seriousness of the situation and called for a thorough investigation. She pointed out that grenades are typically issued under specific conditions and are not meant to be gifted or kept at home.
Ukrainian law enforcement and military authorities are investigating the matter to determine whether this was purely an accident or if there were other underlying factors involved.
Major Gennadiy Chastyakov had a notable career in the Ukrainian armed forces. Serving as an aide to one of the country’s top military officials, he played a significant role in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The incident has brought attention to the risks faced by those on the front lines and military personnel and their families at home.
