Valery Chaika, a pro-Russian official in the Russian-occupied part of the Luhansk region, was killed when a bomb planted in his car exploded in the village of Starobelsk, the head of the local district administration, Vladimir Chernev, said, quoted by France Press, BTA reports.
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The employee died in the "detonation of an unidentified explosive device" in his car, reported the local Investigative Committee.
An investigation into a "terrorist act" has been launched, according to the same source, who adds that the circumstances of the incident are being established.
"Our comrade is dead", wrote in "Telegram" Chernev, adding that an investigation is underway.
Valery Chaika held the position of deputy head of the center for the service of educational organizations in the Luhansk region administration, TASS reports.
Luhansk region is one of the Ukrainian regions, along with Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, whose annexation Moscow announced in 2022, notes AFP.
In December last year, another pro-Russian local official was killed in a Russian-controlled part of Luhansk region when an "unidentified explosive device" exploded in his car, AFP recalls.