Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant chief engineer killed in drone strike
A Ukrainian drone struck a service vehicle near the Russian‑controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, killing chief engineer Alexander Yakovlev and the driver, according to Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev. The plant, Europe’s largest with six reactors, has been under Russian control since March 2022 and is located near the town of Enerhodar.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s director Rafael Grossi condemned the incident as an “unacceptable attack” that seriously threatens nuclear safety. Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, demanded a clear condemnation from the IAEA, labeling the act a crime of the Kyiv regime. Ukraine has not commented on the specific strike.
The attack adds to a series of assaults on the plant’s staff and infrastructure, raising concerns about the safety of the nuclear facility amid the ongoing Russia‑Ukraine conflict.