War in Ukraine: The mayor of the city where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is located was injured in an attack

The mayor of the Russian-held city of Energodar, in southeastern Ukraine, and two of his security guards, were injured in an explosion Sunday, May 22.

According to Tass news agency, the explosion occurred at the entrance of an apartment complex where Mayor Andrey Shevchik’s mother is said to be staying.

It is known that the mayor has recently received many threats from Ukraine. Grandfather Shevchik and two guards are being treated at the hospital for injuries of varying severity.

Fortunately, no residents of the apartment complex were affected by the explosion.

Images on social media showed devastation caused by the explosion, with a metal door ripped open and thrown onto the courtyard.

Energodar is home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporozhye. The city of about 50,000 people was under Russian control in the early days of the ongoing military offensive in Ukraine. Mr. Shevchik was appointed by Moscow to head the local government. The Ukrainian government does not recognize Shevchik as mayor, considering him part of an illegal occupation force.