Training grenade explodes in Zhytomyr region school during air raid alert

A dangerous incident occurred within the walls of local gymnasium No. 17 in the city of Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region. During an announced air raid alert, an 11-year-old female student attempted to dismantle a training grenade right inside the school shelter, which led to its sudden detonation and a pyrotechnic pop.

Circumstances of the incident in Berdychiv

Reports of the incident reached law enforcement agencies on October 8, 2026, at around 11:00 AM. An investigative and operational team from the Main Directorate of the National Police in Zhytomyr Region, arriving at the scene, established that the schoolgirl had brought two training grenade mock-ups into the educational institution. While staying in the bomb shelter along with other children and teachers, she decided to examine the internal structure of one of the items.

Safety measures and consequences of the explosion

Fortunately, thanks to a timely response and the absence of lethal elements in the training ordnance, none of the children or teachers were injured in the incident. As of 2:00 PM on the same day, no one present at the gymnasium had sought medical assistance. Police officers promptly seized the remains of the triggered pyrotechnic device, as well as a second unexploded training grenade, for further expert examination.

Contradictory data

While official reports from the National Police confirmed that the device was strictly a training mock-up, social media and initial eyewitness accounts initially circulated rumors regarding the potential use of live military ordnance. Nevertheless, forensic experts and official representatives of the department dispelled these fears, confirming the training status of the device, while emphasizing the extreme danger of such experiments in confined spaces with large numbers of people.

Law enforcement response and context

The police of Zhytomyr region continue to investigate all circumstances of the incident, particularly the channels through which the child obtained the dangerous items. Law enforcement officers strongly urge parents and teachers to strengthen control over children, conduct explanatory talks on the unacceptability of bringing any suspicious, pyrotechnic, or explosive items to schools, recalling recent similar incidents of careless handling of ammunition in other regions of Ukraine.