On the evening of May 10, an explosion in Okhtyrka, a city in the Sumy region of Ukraine, resulted in injuries to five individuals, including police officers. The incident involved a man who detonated a grenade in a public area.
Authorities from the Sumy Regional Police reported that the suspect, a 41-year-old former military serviceman, has been apprehended, and criminal proceedings have been initiated against him. His actions led to serious injuries among those present at the scene.
Among the injured, one civilian sustained a penetrating liver injury, which required surgical intervention. He is currently in intensive care but is expected to recover. Other injuries included shrapnel wounds to the arms and legs of three men, who are reported to be in stable condition. Additionally, one police officer suffered a minor shrapnel injury to the pelvic area but did not require surgery.
Igor Hresko, the director of the Okhtyrka Central District Hospital, stated, “Everyone was born under a lucky star; all have received medical assistance. The prognosis for all cases is favorable, and we hope for a good outcome.”
The incident unfolded around 5:30 PM when police received a report about a man armed with a grenade on the streets of Okhtyrka. Officers from the patrol police sector, along with a district police officer, responded promptly to the situation.
Eyewitness accounts described the suspect as being initially cooperative, sitting on a bench while consuming a beer. However, despite police efforts to persuade him to surrender the grenade, he abruptly threw it, resulting in the explosion. An eyewitness named Maxim recounted, “We saw the police lead him out of a café. They were trying to convince him to hand over the grenade. He said, ‘No, I won’t.’ Then he suddenly threw the grenade, and it exploded shortly after.”
The local police have confirmed that all injured parties have been hospitalized and are receiving treatment.
An explosion in Okhtyrka, Ukraine, on May 10 injured five people, including police officers. The suspect, a former military serviceman, has been arrested and faces criminal charges.