The chief engineer at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Alexander Yakovlev, was killed after a Ukrainian drone struck a service vehicle located between the nuclear site and the town of Enerhodar. The incident was confirmed on Wednesday by Alexei Likhachev, the head of Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, who noted that the plant's driver also died in the attack.
Since the initial stages of Russia's 2022 military operation, Russian forces have maintained control over the Zaporizhzhia facility, which stands as Europe's largest nuclear power plant with six reactors. The surrounding city of Enerhodar, which serves as the primary residence for the station's staff, has frequently been subjected to attacks. Both Russia and Ukraine have consistently traded accusations regarding military activities that jeopardize nuclear safety at the site.
Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), condemned the incident as an unacceptable attack on the plant and its management, stating that it poses a serious threat to nuclear safety. While he did not specifically name either Ukraine or Russia, he emphasized the gravity of the situation. In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled the event a crime committed by the Kiev regime, asserting on Telegram that international bodies must issue a clear condemnation.
The Kremlin had previously accused Ukraine last Friday of escalating what it described as terror actions against the power station. In separate developments, authorities reported that Russian attacks elsewhere in Ukraine resulted in 13 deaths and 50 injuries. These daytime strikes targeted industrial and medical facilities in the cities of Odesa and Sumy. Specifically, the Black Sea port city of Odesa continues to face ongoing drone and missile attacks directed at its port and civilian infrastructure.
