Three men died in a grenade explosion in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine after one of them pulled the pin while intoxicated, local police reported. The incident occurred on Tuesday in the town of Zlatopil. Two 24-year-olds and a 27-year-old were drinking near a car when the tragedy unfolded.
According to witnesses, one of the men removed his sweatshirt and handed it to a companion. The second man checked the pocket, found a grenade, and carelessly pulled the safety pin. He failed to throw the device away in time. All three residents of the Kharkiv region died instantly.
A photo released by Ukrainian police shows a car with a shattered rear window and a nearly destroyed trunk lid. Other vehicles in the background also had windows blown out, likely from the shockwave. The incident has been classified as an accident, but a full investigation is underway, including determining the origin of the grenade.
Police urge citizens not to store weapons
– We are currently determining all the circumstances of the tragedy. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing – said the Kharkiv regional police.
– The Kharkiv region police appeal to citizens not to store weapons, ammunition, or other explosives. Any careless handling of them can lead to fatal consequences – the police added in a statement.
Legacy of wartime weapon distribution haunting Ukraine
Since the start of the full-scale war with Russia, tens of thousands of firearms have been issued to civilians as part of forming self-defense groups. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly warned that recovering illegally stored weapons, including grenades and explosive devices, will be one of the greatest challenges in restoring order and security after the conflict ends.
This tragic event highlights the ongoing danger posed by unsecured munitions in a country still at war.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
