Chief engineer killed in drone strike near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

The chief engineer at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been killed in a drone strike near the facility, according to Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

Rosatom said Alexander Yakovlev was travelling in a service vehicle between the nuclear plant and the nearby town of Enerhodar when a Ukrainian drone struck the car. The driver was also killed.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the incident.

Nuclear safety concerns

The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station with six reactors, has been under Russian control since it was seized during the early weeks of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Since then, both Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of carrying out attacks that put the safety of the plant at risk.

Enerhodar, where many of the station's employees live, has frequently come under attack during the war.

IAEA condemns attack

Rafael Grossi, Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), condemned the incident but did not attribute responsibility to either side.

He said the attack "represents an unacceptable attack on the plant and its management, seriously threatening nuclear safety."

Russia blames Kyiv

Rosatom Chief Alexei Likhachev accused Ukraine of carrying out the strike and criticised Western countries for what he described as their lack of response.

He claimed the failure of Western governments to react to previous attacks on the plant "encourages escalation of terrorist acts by the Ukrainian government". Likhachev also said attacks in the area had killed 13 people and injured 48 over the past two and a half months.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also blamed Kyiv, writing on Telegram she said, "This is a crime of the Kyiv regime that Grossi must finally see - we demand a clear statement condemning this killing from the relevant international bodies, first and foremost the IAEA."

Last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of stepping up what he called "terror" attacks against the power station and other civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine has not publicly responded to those allegations.

Read more: 

• Russia prioritises fuel for food deliveries as shortages cut deep
• Russian strike on Ukraine's Odesa kills three as Moscow, Kyiv battle over Black Sea
• Lithuania says Russia planning attacks on its infrastructure

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