News Feed

Case of Zaluzhnyi's aide death referred to State Bureau of Investigation

2 min read
Case of Zaluzhnyi's aide death referred to State Bureau of Investigation
Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi at the funeral of a Ukrainian soldier in early March 2023 in Kyiv. (Yurii Stefanyak/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

The case of the grenade explosion that killed Major Hennadii Chastiakov, an assistant of Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, was referred to the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Police reported on Nov. 7.

The Bureau, known as the DBR in Ukraine, investigates crimes committed by Ukraine's top officials, judges, law enforcement employees, and, in some cases, war crimes.

Chastiakov was killed on his birthday on Nov. 6 by an explosive in one of his gifts at his home in Chaiky, Kyiv Oblast, Zaluzhnyi confirmed, following media reports on the 39-year-old major's death. His thirteen-year-old son was seriously injured in the explosion and is undergoing medical treatment.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Mariana Reva told RFE/RL's Ukrainian service on Nov. 7 that the explosion was likely the result of careless handling of ammunition.

An unnamed man had confessed to giving Chastiakov the grenade but also said that he had warned him that it was live. Chastiakov likely disregarded the warning, Reva said, and the grenade exploded.

The State Bureau of Investigation's press service confirmed on Nov. 7 to the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet that it is now working on the case.

According to the Bureau, the case now involves article 410-4 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which covers stealing, misappropriation, and extortion of weapons and other military equipment committed by a service member under martial law.

News Feed
 (Updated:  )

The latest estimates appear to be significantly higher than figures published earlier this month by independent Russian media outlets Mediazona and Meduza that estimated 352,000 Russian men between the ages of 18 and 59 have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Video

The Kyiv Independent’s Martin Fornusek speaks with Kaupo Rosin, director general of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, about Russia’s long-term strategy against Ukraine and Europe, the risks facing NATO’s eastern flank, and why Moscow still views the United States as its main adversary.

Show More