Grenade 'Bang' in Ukrainian Parliament...Live Video Captures Lawmaker Throwing It

26 Injured... Captured on Facebook Live
Foreign Media: "Easier Civilian Access to Weapons Since the War"

A member of a regional council in Ukraine detonated a grenade, injuring dozens with serious and moderate wounds. However, the incident is reported to be unrelated to the war in Ukraine.

According to the British BBC and local Ukrainian media on the 15th (local time), around 11 a.m. that day, a male council member pulled the safety pins from three grenades and threw them on the floor during a meeting at the council chamber in the mountainous Zakarpattia region in western Ukraine.

At the time, the council members were debating next year's budget and this year's settlement. About 90 minutes after the meeting began, one council member was seen shouting in opposition to the budget proposal, which was broadcast live on Facebook. Afterwards, a man wearing a black jacket left the room with another man, returned a few minutes later, took a grenade out of his pocket, and dropped it on the floor.

A man in black clothes throwing a grenade at the Ukrainian regional council [Image source=Captured from X (formerly Twitter)]

The explosion injured 26 people, including the suspect council member, with six of them in critical condition. The police did not disclose the suspect's detailed identity, but he was later identified as Serhiy Batrin (54), a member of the 'Servant of the People' party led by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Council member Batrin had expressed resentment toward the ruling power and criticized corruption in local authorities.

Immediately after the incident, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched an investigation into terrorism suspicions and illegal weapons handling. The exact motive for the crime has not yet been revealed, but it is known to be unrelated to the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, AFP reported, "Since the war broke out following Russia's invasion in February last year, many Ukrainian civilians have gained access to weapons."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.