Grenade discovered during autopsy of soldier's body returned as part of exchange with Russia

In Chernivtsi, forensic experts discovered an unexploded grenade during the autopsy of a fallen Ukrainian serviceman whose body had been brought back from Russia as part of an exchange. Morgue staff were evacuated, and bomb disposal experts neutralised the device.

Source: Viktor Bachynskyi, Head of the Chernivtsi Regional Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination, in a comment to Suspilne

Details: Bachynskyi said that during examination of bodies returned by Russia as part of exchanges, explosive items are occasionally found in pockets. However, this time the grenade was discovered directly inside the deceased's body.

According to Bachynskyi, the explosive device had entered through the abdominal cavity, passed through the body and stopped under the skin of the right thigh.

Quote: "When the expert began the autopsy of the deceased, opened the cranial cavity and the chest cavity, then reached the limb and started to cut it, he found an unexploded grenade under the skin."

Details: After the dangerous item was discovered, morgue employees were evacuated from the premises and bomb disposal experts were called to the scene.

The grenade was removed and taken to a training ground, where it was destroyed in a controlled explosion.

Bachynskyi added that due to similar incidents, bodies are usually additionally checked by State Emergency Service bomb disposal experts before forensic experts begin their work. However, in this case the explosive device was not detected immediately.

Background: On 26 February, Ukraine received 1,000 bodies (remains) of the deceased as part of repatriation efforts, which, according to early reports from the Russian side, may belong to Ukrainian servicemen.

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