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This is the appalling moment a local politician let off three grenades in a village council meeting in Ukraine.
The man, named as council representative Serhiy Batrin, 54, is seen entering the meeting late and standing by the door during a heated discussion at the session in Keretsk, in the Zakarpattia region.
He is seen taking two grenades from his pocket as he begins talking, appearing irate.
Holding a grenade in each hand, he then asks ‘may I’, before tossing them on the floor close to him and a seated woman council member.
Footage catches the distressing moment of the explosion. The man detonated a third grenade, too, according to reports citing law enforcement.
Serhiy Batrin (pictured) is seen taking two grenades from his pocket as he begins talking, appearing irate
Footage catches the distressing moment of the explosion
Three blasts were heard. Police said a total of 26 people were injured, six seriously.
‘My legs, I can’t walk…my legs are cut,’ said one victim.
Another said: ‘Call the ambulance.’
A voice says: ‘Pull me out.’
The local politician who ignited the grenades was believed to be among those badly wounded.
Medics resuscitated him after the explosions, according to reports.
The explosion came during an argument over money at the council session.
Batrin is a council representative for the Servant of the People party, founded by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
He works in the village council’s law and order commission.
Police are seeking to establish a motive for what appeared to be a carefully premeditated act.
He was in ‘eternal opposition’ to the ruling faction on the council, local media reported.
Batrin had expressed his fury over water problems in the village when a large sum was paid to the director of the utility company.
The act is not believed to be related to the on-going war in Ukraine.
Batrin is a council representative for the Servant of the People party, founded by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky
Three blasts were heard. Police said a total of 26 people were injured, six seriously
