Mariusz Kamiński made the announcement at a news conference on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The Polish interior minister said he had met with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Monastyrsky on Wednesday.
The two discussed the grenade incident and issued a joint statement on the matter, reporters were told.
The incident happened in mid-December when Poland’s police chief, Jarosław Szymczyk, accidentally set off one of two used-up grenade launchers given to him as a present by Ukrainian officials.
Polish and Ukrainian investigators are conducting separate probes into the explosion, which sent Szymczyk to hospital with minor injuries, the PAP news agency reported.
Polish-Ukrainian statement
The joint statement by Kamiński and Monastyrsky said that “the Ukrainian side values highly and is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of Polish colleagues and partners,” the PAP news agency reported.
The statement added: “During Polish police chief Jarosław Szymczyk’s recent visit to Kyiv, he was presented, in a symbolic expression of gratitude, with a gift that was devoid of combat value, but was related to Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.”
Ukraine ‘reiterates its regret’
Kamiński and Monastyrsky further stated: “The Ukrainian side reiterates its regret over the unintentional mistake which led to the incident at Poland’s National Police Headquarters. It should be noted that police chief Jarosław Szymczyk is a great friend of Ukraine, who steadfastly supports Ukrainian services at this difficult time, and has unfairly borne the consequences of this incident.”
The Polish and Ukrainian interior ministers also said that “in connection with the incident, the Ukrainian side took immediate action to explain the situation as soon as possible."
They added: "The responsible top officials of Ukraine’s state emergency service have been suspended while the official investigation continues."
Polish, Ukrainian interior ministries ‘will continue to work closely together’
Kamiński and Monastyrski went on to state: “Both the Polish and Ukrainian side would like to assure everyone that Poland and Ukraine’s interior ministries will continue to work closely together as before. Our joint actions are extremely important, both in peacetime and - especially - in the current, tense international situation caused by Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.”
“Our shared aim is to ensure that the citizens of Poland and Ukraine are secure and to achieve a just peace in Ukraine,” the statement concluded.
Szymczyk, the Polish police chief, was present during Wednesday's meeting between the Polish and Ukrainian interior ministers, the PAP news agency reported.
Thursday is day 309 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, gov.pl