Ukrainian car bomb kills top Russian official at nuclear power plant

An official working at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been killed in a car bombing, according to reports from both Ukrainian and Russian sources.

The attack marks the latest incident targeting individuals Kyiv has labeled “collaborators” or “traitors” for aligning with Russian forces.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, confirmed the killing of Andriy Korotky, who it described as the “head of physical security” at the nuclear facility. According to the GUR, the Friday morning explosion was the result of a car bomb.

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Korotky was branded a “war criminal” by the agency, which accused him of “voluntarily cooperating with Russian invaders,” providing information about “pro-Ukrainian” employees at the plant, and playing a role in the repression of its staff.

Russian-backed officials at the facility acknowledged Korotky’s death, identifying him as a former head of the local council in Enerhodar, the city where the nuclear plant is situated. They condemned the incident as a “terrorist attack carried out by the Kyiv regime.” Yury Chernichuk, the plant’s Russia-appointed director, called the bombing a “reckless” act that “must be punished.”

Russia’s Investigative Committee, which handles significant criminal cases, stated that an improvised explosive device was placed under Korotky’s car at his residence, detonating as he began driving.

“The victim died of his injuries in hospital,” the committee said, noting that a criminal investigation had been launched.

The GUR also released a low-resolution video showing a white SUV slowly driving before exploding, with debris and smoke filling the scene.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been a focal point of tension, with both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of actions that could potentially lead to a nuclear disaster.

This incident is one in a series of car bombings targeting pro-Russian figures throughout the conflict. In November, Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov was reportedly killed near the Russian-controlled port city of Berdyansk in the same region. In April, Valery Chaika, a deputy head of a state-run agency in the Russian-annexed Luhansk region, also died in a car bombing.

Russian Drone Attacks Continue

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian forces launched an attack on critical infrastructure overnight using 19 drones. Of these, nine were shot down by air defenses, with another seven likely disrupted by electronic jamming.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed damage to an apartment building in the capital, though no casualties were reported, and the resulting fire was quickly contained. In the central Kirovohrad region, a business building was damaged, with one worker sustaining minor injuries, according to Governor Andriy Raykovych.

In the southern Kherson region, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that Russian forces struck critical infrastructure, utility facilities, and 35 private residences within the past day.