X-Ray shows grenade removed from Ukraine soldier’s chest

Ukraine’s armed forces medical service posted photos of what they say is an X-ray of a soldier’s chest from which a grenade was removed earlier this week.

“Ukrainian combat medics saved the life of a soldier, pulling a grenade out of his body,” reads a post on Ukraine’s Facebook page. “Fortunately, it had not exploded.”

Surgeons were assisted by two combat engineers, called “sappers,” according to Ukraine’s post.

It’s not clear where the injured soldier was fighting when the grenade became lodged in his chest cavity, inches from his heart. It’s also unclear how the artillery found its way into the troop’s body. The BBC indicated the bomb was a VOG grenade, which measures 1.6″ in length and can be launched from a distance of .2 miles.

[ Grenade-shaped object found in German forest is sex toy, not bomb: police ]

Well-wishers on Facebook praised the bravery of both the soldier and the physician who removed the explosive device.

Russia’s invasion of its neighboring nation is in its 11th month. It’s difficult to know how many deaths or injuries the war has caused, though U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley estimated each side’s battle casualties were north of 100,000 in November.