Polish Police Chief Injured by “Exploding” Ukrainian Gift

The interior ministry announced Thursday that Poland’s police chief, Jarosaw Szymczyk, was brought to the hospital with minor injuries after a present he received from a senior Ukrainian official detonated.

“Yesterday at 7.50am there was an explosion in a room next to the office of the police chief,” a statement said. “One of the presents the police chief received during his working visit to Ukraine on December 11th and 12th exploded.”

During the visit, Szymczyk met with the heads of Ukraine’s police and state emergency services, and the item was a gift from one of those leaders, according to the ministry.

It stated that his injuries were mild and that he remained hospitalized for observation.

A civilian employee at the headquarters of the national police also had minor injuries that did not necessitate hospitalization.
“The Polish side has asked the Ukrainian side to provide an explanation,” the ministry added.