Russian Missile Kills Six, Injures 20 in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia

With the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the background, a bicyclist travels along a path in Nikopol, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2024. Russian forces have controlled the plant since the first weeks of the war. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
With the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the background, a bicyclist travels along a path in Nikopol, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2024. Russian forces have controlled the plant since the first weeks of the war. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
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Russian Missile Kills Six, Injures 20 in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia

With the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the background, a bicyclist travels along a path in Nikopol, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2024. Russian forces have controlled the plant since the first weeks of the war. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
With the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the background, a bicyclist travels along a path in Nikopol, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2024. Russian forces have controlled the plant since the first weeks of the war. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

A Russian missile attack on Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday killed six people, injured at least 20 more and destroyed a critical infrastructure facility, Ukrainian officials said.

Ivan Fedorov, the regional governor, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that a fire broke out as a result of the strike. Authorities did not say what the facility was.

Before the attack, Fedorov and Ukraine's Air Force announced a ballistic missile alert for the region.

Russia has recently stepped up attacks on Zaporizhzhia, using highly destructive guided bombs, which Ukrainian forces find hard to shoot down.

The city is an important logistical and industrial hub located about 40 km (25 miles) from the frontline. Moscow's troops partially occupy the Zaporizhzhia region, which is also home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

The Ukrainian president's chief of staff urged allies to give more support to counter Russian attacks.

"Violence must be stopped by strong actions," Andriy Yermak said on Telegram.



Iranian-German Sharmahd Died before His Execution, Iran Judiciary Says

In this file photo taken on July 31, 2023 a demonstrator holds a picture of Iranian-German Jamshid Sharmahd, who has been sentenced to death in Iran, during a demonstration for his release in front of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on July 31, 2023 a demonstrator holds a picture of Iranian-German Jamshid Sharmahd, who has been sentenced to death in Iran, during a demonstration for his release in front of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. (AFP)
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Iranian-German Sharmahd Died before His Execution, Iran Judiciary Says

In this file photo taken on July 31, 2023 a demonstrator holds a picture of Iranian-German Jamshid Sharmahd, who has been sentenced to death in Iran, during a demonstration for his release in front of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on July 31, 2023 a demonstrator holds a picture of Iranian-German Jamshid Sharmahd, who has been sentenced to death in Iran, during a demonstration for his release in front of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. (AFP)

Iranian-German national Jamshid Sharmahd died before his execution, which was announced by Tehran late last month, Iran's judiciary said on Tuesday, according to state media.

State media initially reported the execution of Sharmahd on Oct. 28, following his sentencing to death by Iran's judiciary in 2023 for carrying out "terrorist attacks".

"Jamshid Sharmahd died before the execution of his death sentence," judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said, without providing additional information.

His daughter Gazelle Sharmahd, on X, had demanded proof of his execution and called for the immediate return of her father.

Sharmahd's death exacerbated a diplomatic rift between Tehran and Berlin, with the German authorities closing Iranian consulates across Germany.

Iranian authorities said Sharmahd had headed a pro-monarchist group accused of a deadly 2008 bombing and planning other attacks in the country.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Iran of playing politics with hostages and of trying to use Germany's support for Israel in the widening Middle East conflict to justify Sharmahd's killing.