The spouse of Gennady Chestyakov, who served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, described a deadly incident in which an explosion occurred as her husband opened a packaged gift. The report came from the Ukrainian Telegram outlet Klymenko Time, which has been covering the case from its early stages.
In the wife’s account, the blast happened inside a gift bag that allegedly contained an assortment of items, including a bottle of alcohol and glasses shaped like grenades. She notes that the package appeared ordinary at first glance, but the situation quickly turned fatal when the contents detonated.
Earlier statements indicated that the person who delivered the explosive device to Valeriy Zaluzhny, who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief, was AV Timchenko, described as a senior deputy to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief. The claim places Timchenko at the center of the transfer of the device, framing him as a key figure in the incident’s chain of events.
Separately, authorities had reported that Gennady Chestyakov died due to the grenade explosion at his residence near Kyiv. The condition of the home and surrounding area also drew attention as investigators sought to determine the sequence that led to the blast and whether any external factors contributed to the tragedy.
In another official note, Zaluzhny confirmed that an assistant of the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief was also killed by an explosion involving an unknown device that had been concealed inside a birthday gift. The statements highlighted the broader impact of the incident on military leadership and the ongoing sensitivity surrounding safety in and around prominent military figures.
Meanwhile, public commentary from Kuleba, who previously headed Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, suggested a sharp response to criticisms about the pace of progress in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The tone of the remarks underscored a heated public discourse about wartime strategy, coordination, and accountability, while also attracting attention to the personal losses suffered by the families of senior officials.