Ukrainian Drone Attack Killed Chief Engineer at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Russia Says

By Reuters July 16, 2026 Alexander Yakovlev. t.me/znppofficial The chief engineer at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was killed by a Ukrainian drone near the station, the head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom said on Wednesday. Alexei Likhachev said in a statement that a Ukrainian drone had struck a service car between the plant's site and the town of Enerhodar, killing the engineer, Alexander Yakovlev, and the driver. Russian forces seized the plant in southeastern Ukraine in the first weeks of the full-scale invasion. Each side has since regularly accused the other of military actions that endanger nuclear safety. The city of Enerhodar, where most of the nuclear station's staff live, has been a frequent target of attacks. Likhachev said the failure of Western countries to react to attacks on the plant "encourages escalation of terrorist acts by the Ukrainian government," adding that attacks on the area had killed 13 people and injured 48 over the past two and a half months. Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, condemned the incident without making any specific mention of Ukraine or Russia. Grossi said it "represents an unacceptable attack on the plant and its management, seriously threatening nuclear safety." Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, writing on Telegram, said: "This is a crime of the Kyiv regime that Grossi must finally see — we demand a clear statement condemning this killing from the relevant international bodies, first and foremost the IAEA." The Kremlin last Friday accused Ukraine of escalating what it called "terror" actions against the power station. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of carrying out strikes against civilian infrastructure and against infrastructure directly related to the plant. There was no immediate comment on the latest incident from Ukraine. Read more about: Zaporizhzhia , Nuclear power , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia and Ukraine Agree to Localized Ceasefire for Repairs at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Work on a backup power line, which was damaged and disconnected as a result of military activity on Jan. 2, should start "in the coming days," the International... 1 Min read opinion Alexander Nikitin How Russia Is Turning a Captured Nuclear Power Plant into a Propaganda Piece A blackout at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant coincided with World Atomic Week and an IAEA visit, suggesting Moscow is trying to project control. 4 Min read No Sign of Russian Preparations to Restart Zaporizhzhia, IAEA Official Says Previous reports said that Russia is building power lines to connect the Zaporizhzhia plant to its own grid. 2 Min read Ukraine, Russia Trade Barbs Over Fire at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant The International Atomic Energy Agency said there had been no detected spike in radiation levels or any impact on nuclear safety. 2 Min read