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.
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.
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."
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.
Britain and France have pledged stronger military support for Ukraine, including access to classified technology for Storm Shadow missile productio...
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concer...
The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation...
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concerns over potential disruption to regional oil supplies.
Britain and France have pledged stronger military support for Ukraine, including access to classified technology for Storm Shadow missile production and faster deliveries of air defence missiles.
France and Saudi Arabia have agreed on plans for a $7 billion manga-themed amusement complex near Paris, inspired by the hugely popular Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 25th of August, covering the latest developments.
The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, ending a designation that had been in place for nearly five decades and marking a major step in Washington's efforts to rebuild relations with the country's new leadership.
The Trump administration has announced plans to revoke the temporary visitor visas of foreign nationals who entered the United States on tourist or business visas and later sought asylum, marking the latest expansion of Washington's immigration enforcement policies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment