Ukraine kills Russian official at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in car bomb | News about the Russia-Ukraine war

The attack is the latest killing of a pro-Russian figure during the war in Ukraine.

A Ukrainian car bomb attack killed an official at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, officials from both countries said. It was the latest attack on senior figures branded by Kiev as “collaborators” and “traitors” for working with Russian forces.

Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency said a car bomb explosion Friday morning killed Andriy Korotky, whom it identified as the “head of physical security” at the nuclear site.

It described him as a “war criminal” who “voluntarily cooperated with the Russian invaders,” made statements about “pro-Ukrainian” factory employees and “took part in the repression” of factory employees.

Russian-backed authorities at the plant said Korotky was a former chairman of the local council in Russian-controlled Enerhodar, the city where the nuclear power plant is located.

They added that Korotky was killed in a “terrorist attack by the Kiev regime.” The facility's Russian-appointed director, Yuri Chernichuk, called it a “reckless” attack that “must be punished.”

The Russian Investigative Committee, which investigates serious crimes, said an improvised explosive device was planted under his car at home, which then exploded as he drove off.

“The victim died in hospital from his injuries,” it said, adding that a criminal case had been opened.

The GUR released a low-quality video showing a white SUV driving slowly before exploding, destroying the car and sending debris and smoke everywhere.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of risking a potentially devastating nuclear disaster at the site.

The attack was the last killing of a pro-Russian figure in a car bombing during the war. Several local officials appointed by Russia in eastern Ukraine were also attacked.

In November, Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov was reportedly killed near the Russian-controlled port city of Berdyansk in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Valery Chaika, the deputy head of a state administrative agency in the Luhansk region allegedly annexed by Russia, was killed by a car bomb in April.

Russian drone attack

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Friday that Russia had used 19 drones to attack critical infrastructure in the country overnight.

Air defense shot down nine drones and seven others were likely affected by electronic jamming, it said in a statement, without saying what happened to the other three.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a residential building was damaged in the capital but did not report any injuries. The fire was extinguished there immediately, he added.

The attack also damaged a commercial building in the central Kirovohrad region and caused minor injuries to one of the employees, Governor Andriy Raykovych said.

Russian forces attacked critical infrastructure, utilities and 35 private homes in the southern Kherson region last day, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

In separate attacks there, one was killed and four were injured, he said.