If an object even slightly resembles an explosive item, do not pick it up
In Vinnytsia, during a school lesson, an object resembling an imitation training grenade detonated. According to the police, one of the eighth-grade students brought it to class and left it on a desk. When two teenagers picked the object up, an explosion occurred. The students sought medical assistance, reporting a burning sensation in their eyes. Preliminary information suggests that the object had been brought to the student by a military relative.
SGS emphasizes: any object that resembles an explosive item must not be picked up — even if it appears to be a toy, souvenir, mock-up, or training item.
For public awareness activities, especially those involving children, only safe visual materials should be used: stands, posters, images, presentations, and videos. Objects that can be held, passed around, or perceived as “toys” create an additional risk and may form a dangerous habit — touching something that looks like a mine, grenade, or another explosive item.
The rule is simple and applies in every situation:
Do not approach. Do not touch. Do not pick it up. Inform adults or emergency services.
Such incidents are another reminder that in a country at war, a culture of safety must begin with the simplest rule: never touch unknown or potentially dangerous objects under any circumstances.