A tragic incident occurred near Izyum in Kharkiv region, once again reminding us of the dangers of neglecting safety rules when working with uncontrolled military objects from the past
Two men died while attempting to salvage metal from outdated military samples — specifically, an self-propelled artillery unit left behind after the region’s occupation by Russian forces. According to preliminary information, the incident happened close to the village of Mala Komyshuvakha in Izyum district. Three men, who decided to extract metal from remnants of military equipment, including a welded barrel of a self-propelled gun, began disassembling it. They were unaware that the equipment contained dangerous ammunition, thus risking their lives. It was during work with a welding device that an explosion occurred. According to the message from the Kharkiv police, during cutting, one of the artillery shells detonated, posing an immediate deadly threat to two men. As a result of the explosion, they sustained injuries incompatible with life: one was born in 1988, the other in 1964. Following a thorough analysis of the circumstances, investigators initiated a criminal case under the article involving responsibility for an accident, with a qualification under part 2 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Law enforcement officials noted that, in this case, the issue was specifically negligent attitude towards personal safety during work with military reserves, which were left behind according to military instructions and warnings. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder to all residents of the region and those who wish to work independently with military remnants from the past — ignoring safety rules and neglecting necessary precautions can cost lives. Currently, specialists continue to clarify all the details of the incident, and law enforcement urges citizens to refrain from risky self-led work with military leftovers until they are properly examined and de-militarized by experts. This story once again highlights the vital importance of responsibility and caution amid ongoing military activities in the region, as well as, even after active hostilities have ended, the necessity of handling leftover military equipment and ammunition left behind by the Russian occupying army with utmost caution.