A soldier fighting in the Ukraine war was lucky to be alive after a live grenade was removed from his chest before it detonated. Ukrainian surgeon Major General Andrii Verba successfully performed the surgery despite knowing that the grenade could detonate at any time.
The operation was performed in the company of two other soldiers as there was a threat of the grenade exploding.
''Our military doctors conducted an operation to remove a VOG grenade, which did not break, from the body of a soldier. The operation lasted in the presence of two sappers who supervised the safety of the medical staff and the patient. One of the most experienced surgeons of the Armed Forces, Major General Andrew Willow, operated without electrocoagulation, as the grenade could detonate at any time,' General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote in a Facebook post.
An X-ray image showing the exact location of the grenade lodged in the soldier's chest was shared on the micro-blogging site by the Ukrainian military. The surgeon was also pictured holding the explosive that could have "detonated at any time''.
The surgery was performed on the soldier without electrocoagulation, a common technique used to control bleeding. Following the successful surgery the injured soldier was sent to rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the social media is all praise for the doctor who performed the operation risking his life.
"How amazing and such an act of courage by everyone there in such a predicament. Nerves of steel and a steady hand from all in that environment. Can't imagine what it must have felt like. Shows what can be done with little or no implements, just trust and faith in one another. Bravo! My prayers are with you always. Take care," wrote one Facebook user.
"Well done to all the medical team and sappers involved. Fantastic work!" wrote another user.
"Glory to Ukraine! Respect to all the amazing heroes," wrote a third.