Denied access to the restroom, a man in Mykolaiv retaliated by throwing a grenade into a sushi bar. (photos, video)

On the evening of Sunday, January 5, a staff member from a dining establishment contacted law enforcement, reporting that an unknown man had thrown an explosive device into the hall filled with patrons and then fled the scene. This was confirmed by the main department of the National Police in the Mykolaiv region.

The manager of the establishment stated in a comment to "Suspilne" that one of the men wanted to use the restroom but was unable to access it because entry was permitted only with a password provided on the receipt. Afterward, the man returned 10 minutes later, but with a "surprise." At that time, there were approximately 15 people in the sushi bar, including two underage girls.

Police officers who arrived at the scene determined that a special airsoft grenade had exploded in the establishment, and no patrons were harmed.

During the search operations, law enforcement identified the suspect, a 34-year-old resident of the Odesa region. After committing the offense, the perpetrator changed his hairstyle and shaved his beard for concealment.

"I want to sincerely apologize for my thoughtless act. It was reckless and irresponsible. I truly regret throwing that pyrotechnic device. I am very ashamed of it. However, I realized my mistakes and drew conclusions only after the act. Unfortunately, since there's no way to turn back time, I cannot change what I have done," the suspect commented on his actions.

Currently, a pre-trial investigation has been initiated under Part 1 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code. The penalties for hooliganism include fines and imprisonment for up to five years. The matter of formally notifying the man of suspicion is being considered.

As a reminder, in August 2024, law enforcement arrested a 25-year-old soldier from Nikopol in Poltava region, who had detonated a grenade, injuring his wife and daughter. The man had been on the run for over a month.