Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias declared a three-day period of mourning in the Armed Forces from 26 to 28 November 2025, following the death of an EPOP (professional) soldier during live grenade firing on the island of Rhodes.
According to initial reports, the victim was a 19-year-old EPOP from Tympaki in the municipality of Faistos, Heraklion, Crete. The early indications suggest the accident was caused by incorrect handling that led to the premature activation of a defensive hand grenade (sources: Patris; Dimokratiki). The incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at the Afantou firing range during a scheduled grenade‑firing training activity conducted by the 6th ETETH unit (source: Hellenic Army General Staff).
A second soldier, a 39-year-old EPOP corporal (reported by the General Staff with initials M.V.), suffered extremely serious injuries, including an amputation of an upper limb and extensive shrapnel wounds to the torso and other limbs. Both servicemen were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital of Rhodes. The 19-year-old (initials R.G. in the army statement) was declared dead on arrival; the 39-year-old was admitted intubated, underwent urgent surgery and remains in critical condition (source: Hellenic Army General Staff; Dimokratiki).
The 19-year-old was reported to be the son of the commander of the Coast Guard Station at Kokkino Pyrgos in Heraklion; his mother works as a head at the Citizen Service Centres (KEP) in Tympaki, and his sister is a police officer serving outside Crete (source: Patris). Family sources said the father had planned to travel to Rhodes to meet the young soldier.
All available evidence currently points to a handling error and premature detonation; the circumstances are under formal investigation by the competent military authorities (source: Hellenic Army General Staff). A rapid evacuation team removed both servicemen from the Afantou area in minimal time to receive hospital treatment.
The General Staff expressed its condolences to the deceased soldier’s family in its announcement. Minister Dendias issued a public message expressing deep sorrow for the loss, offering condolences to the family and colleagues, and wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded soldier. Dendias posted his statement on social media on 26 November 2025 (source: Nikos Dendias tweet).
Authorities continue to investigate the precise causes of the explosion and the chain of events that led to the tragic outcome.
