ELDYK soldier sues Greek state over severe training injury

On February 21, 2024, a 23-year-old Greek soldier serving with the Hellenic Force in Cyprus (ELDYK) suffered a catastrophic injury during a grenade-throwing exercise in the Stavrovouni region. The defective grenade exploded prematurely, resulting in the amputation of the soldier's right palm. Approximately 20 months later, in October 2025, the now 25-year-old soldier underwent an eye removal surgery due to a severe infection caused by the incident.

The soldier has filed two lawsuits against the Greek state before the Three-Member Administrative Court of Athens, seeking hundreds of thousands of euros in damages. Legal representatives argue that the ammunition was part of a batch that should have been decommissioned around 2019 due to expired shelf life and visible cracks. Reports suggest the grenade was provided to ELDYK by the National Guard despite inadequate safety inspections, which were reportedly limited to a superficial visual check by a lieutenant.

While the National Guard claims its internal investigation found no concerning issues regarding the grenades, the legal proceedings continue to bring forward evidence of negligence. The court is currently reviewing the case to determine liability for the procurement and distribution of expired military materials that caused permanent physical and psychological damage to the soldier.