Car Bomb Attack at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

MOSCOW (Reuters) – An employee at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine was killed on Friday morning in a car bomb attack, according to Russian investigators, who blamed Ukraine for the attack.

The Investigative Committee of Russia, which probes serious crimes, reported that the employee, Andrei Korotkiy, died when a bomb placed under his car detonated outside his residence in Enerhodar, where the plant is situated.

Korotkiy worked in the plant’s security department. A criminal case has been initiated regarding his death.

The plant accused Ukrainian authorities of orchestrating the murder. There was no immediate response from Ukraine.

“This is a horrific, inhumane act,” stated plant director Yuri Chernichuk, pledging to punish the attackers.

“An attack on employees ensuring the safety of the nuclear facility is a reckless, outrageous step,” he added.

Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest in Europe with six reactors, shortly after entering Ukraine in February 2022 during what Moscow labeled a “special military operation.” The plant is currently not operational.

Both Russia and Ukraine have routinely accused each other of staging attacks on the facility, with each side denying the allegations.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has permanently stationed monitors at the site and has urged both parties to refrain from all attacks on the plant.