Ukrainian surgeon removes unexploded grenade from soldier’s chest

GEAR CHECK: Our readers don't just follow the news - they stay ready. Featured gear from this story is below.

Daniel Sharp

A Ukrainian medical team recently performed a normally unheard-of surgery by removing an unexploded grenade from a soldier’s chest. A Ukrainian Major General of the Medical Service led the group tackling the dangerous surgery. He was accompanied by two sappers, to help mitigate the explosion risk.

A Ukrainian medical team recently performed a normally unheard-of surgery by removing an unexploded grenade from a soldier’s chest. A Ukrainian Major General of the Medical Service led the group tackling the dangerous surgery. He was accompanied by two sappers, to help mitigate the explosion risk. 

<iframe loading="lazy" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUkrmilitarymedic%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02xN5mW1xocKCXFDFfDJrTNWtuTh1bLZXQBbp4x5QVQBSgidBL1wqJ4KgKWtuSg7Tul&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="748" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Facebook translation of the post

This is a shock 🤯

Nice one

Our military doctors conducted an operation to remove a part of the grenade from the VOG, which did not break, from the body of the soldier!

She was removed in the presence of two sappers who were ensuring the safety of medical staff.

The operation was carried out by one of the most experienced surgeons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – Major General of the Medical Service Andrei Verba without electric coagulation, as the ammunition could detonate at any time.

The surgical intervention was successful and the injured serviceman was sent to further rehabilitation and recovery.

The Ukrainian Military Medic’s Facebook page published an x-ray image of the patient and a picture of the Major General. The Facebook post was published last week mentioning the grenade posed such a high explosion risk that they had to perform it without electrocoagulation – a standard practice used to control bleeding with electricity.

The Ukrainian Military did not reveal any details about the surgery’s location. However, the surgery was considered a success, and the serviceman was transferred to a rehabilitation and recovery center.

The unexploded grenade removed is thought to be a VOG model, fired from a rifle mounted grenade launcher. Munitions of this type have a low failure rate, but several factors could have been at play. Depending on the exact munitions, the arming distance of this type of round may be from 10-40m. Meaning it could have been a point blank shot, or perhaps even a friendly-fire accident. We simply do not know.

This soldier is extremely lucky to have survived. However, several instances of unexploded ordinance, primarily rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), being removed from the bodies of American servicemen occurred during the Global War on Terrorism. Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.

You may also like

Blog

The Transportation Security Administration is warning travelers after officers discovered a live smoke grenade concealed inside a jar of peanut butter at Indianapolis International Airport. Officials say the bizarre attempt is a reminder that explosives, whether real or fake, are never permitted in carry-on or checked baggage.
An ordinary day at a Florida apartment complex nearly turned into tragedy when a six-year-old girl was found unconscious in a swimming pool. Thanks to the quick actions of an off-duty U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, she is alive today, and his heroic rescue is now drawing national attention.
Nearly six decades after displaying extraordinary courage on the battlefield during the Vietnam War, three American veterans have finally received the nation's highest military decoration. Their long-overdue recognition is shining a spotlight on acts of heroism that saved countless lives but remained largely unknown for generations.
China's top security agency claims foreign intelligence services are using sensor-equipped sea turtles, fish, and other marine animals to gather sensitive ocean data near its coastline. Beijing says the information could be used for submarine operations and naval planning, though it has not released evidence identifying who is behind the alleged espionage.
The United Nations is warning that Sudan's city of El-Obeid faces an imminent risk of mass atrocities as paramilitary forces tighten their grip around the strategic city. With hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped and memories of previous massacres still fresh, the international community fears history could be about to repeat itself.

Like This Story? Check Out What Our Community Is Buying

Our best sellers are designed for real-world use - not hype.

View Best Sellers