Ukraine kills nuclear plant’s pro-Russian security chief with car bomb

The security chief at a Russia-controlled nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine was killed in a car bombing Friday, according to Russian and Ukrainian authorities.

Andriy Korotkyy, head of security at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, died after his car exploded on Friday morning in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Enerhodar.

“A homemade explosive device was planted under the vehicle of the head of the security,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement on Telegram.

“When the man got into the car, it detonated. The victim died in the hospital from his injuries,” the committee said, adding that it was opening a murder investigation.

Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate, also known as GUR, seemingly took responsibility for the blast that killed Korotkyy, calling him a “war criminal” and posting a video of a white SUV exploding on Telegram.

“Korotkyy is a collaborator involved in the organization and execution of war crimes and repression of Ukrainians under occupation,” the agency said, accusing him of providing lists of the nuclear power plant’s employees “with a pro-Ukrainian position” to Russian occupiers.

“A just retribution awaits every war criminal,” the agency added. “Glory to Ukraine!”

Moscow took control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest such facility in Europe, shortly after it invaded Ukraine in early 2022. It is located about 50 kilometers southwest of the city of Zaporizhzhia, home to more than 700,000 people.

There is widespread concern about the safety of the plant, with shelling and drone strikes nearby prompting the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog in August to issue a warning about a nuclear disaster.

Korotkyy is not the first Russian-allied official to die in a car bombing by Ukrainian intelligence. Mikhail Filiponenko, a pro-Russian lawmaker and ex-militiaman in occupied eastern Ukraine, was killed in a similar attack last November, with the GUR promising to punish other high-profile collaborators.