A chilling simulation has revealed how one lucky soldier survived despite having a grenade launched in his chest during combat.
The incident took place in November 2022 in the midst of the still ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, despite attempts from world leaders to come to an agreement over a ceasefire.
In fact, the likes of Donald Trump and NATO have now openly sided with Ukraine as tensions between the Eastern European nations reach an all-time high.
Russia and Ukraine may continue to be at odds, with the former opposing a solution to the war, but the fact of the matter is that real people are fighting each other on the battlefields, with tens of thousands losing their lives to the cause.
Some though, have been luckier than others despite being caught in the line of fire, and Junior Sergeant Nikolay Pasenko, 41, was one of these people.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has cost the lives of thousands (ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images) A new simulation from YouTuber Zack D. Films depicts the incident where the soldier was shot with a grenade from a grenade launcher, but instead of the weapon exploding, it lodged itself in his chest while staying intact.
The unexploded projectile had shattered his ribs while miraculously staying in one piece next to his heart.
He was soon rushed to an emergency hospital in Belgorod, with X-rays revealing the projectile had torn through his lung and even become lodged near his spine.
Pasenko saw this and refused surgery at first, as he did not want to put surgeons at risk, though he admitted via Metro: "I was against it. I did not want the doctors to suffer as the munitions could have exploded."
But head military surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Kim, who told his medics to equip themselves with body armour, replied: "So we’ll blow up together."
While chances of a detonation were 'extremely high', a failure to operate would put the soldier at risk of fatal bleeding.
The Russian defence ministry said in a statement: "Despite this, the military doctors together with their civilian counterparts donned body armour under their medical gowns and proceeded with this utmost intricate surgery."
Pasenko survived afainst all odds, saying the medics were 'the real heroes'.
Kim admitted: "We were warned there was a risk of ammunition detonation, but no one refused.
"It’s not every day that you take an [explosive] out of a person, and in a place where moving to the right or left can lead to the death of the patient.
The soldier miraculously survived the operation (YouTube/Zack D. Films) Zack D. Films detailed that doctors couldn't treat the wound like normal, as electricity from equipment used 'to seal the blood vessels would detonate the bomb', as hand tools were primarily used to pull the live grenade out.
It was reported that a second surgery team was on hand in case the explosive went off during the procedure, as Pasenko stated: "My thanks to surgeon Dmitry Kim and I will be grateful to him for the rest of my life."