KYIV, Ukraine – Major Gennadiy Chastiakov, a top Ukrainian military advisor, tragically lost his life when an explosive device inside a birthday present detonated. General Valery Zaluzhny announced the unfortunate news on Telegram.
Ukrainian media reports suggest that the death was a result of an accident. It is believed that the major was given live grenades as a birthday present, one of which exploded due to mishandling, leading police to describe the incident as a “careless handling of ammunition.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced opposition to holding elections during a time of war, citing concerns about political division at a time when unity is crucial. He emphasized that the focus should be on achieving victory over Russia and discouraged frivolously introducing the topic of elections at a time of war, calling it irresponsible.
In another development, Polish heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers staged protests by blocking three border crossings to Ukraine. They expressed discontent over what they perceive as a loss of business to foreign competitors since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a lack of government action to address the issue.
Odesa, a city in the southern part of Ukraine, was struck by Russian aerial attacks, resulting in significant damage to a historic art museum and the injury of eight individuals. Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar urged UNESCO to condemn the strike, while the governor of Odesa stated that much of the museum’s collection had been removed during the war.
Further tragic news emerged from the southern Zaporizhzhia region, where a Russian missile strike targeted a military “awards ceremony,” claiming multiple Ukrainian soldiers’ lives. President Zelenskyy mourned the avoidable loss of life and called for a thorough investigation to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
These events reflect the ongoing turmoil and devastation in Ukraine as the conflict with Russia continues to unfold.