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Ukrainian rebel leader injured in 'assassination attempt' blast on car Ukrainian rebel leader injured in 'assassination attempt' blast on car
(about 5 hours later)
The head of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LNR) Igor Plotnitsky has been injured after an explosion rocked his car. It is reported he is undergoing surgery due to the injuries he obtained. The head of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LNR) Igor Plotnitsky has been injured after an explosion rocked his car. It is reported he is undergoing surgery due to the injuries he sustained.
The incident took place in the city of Lugansk, the capital of LNR on Saturday morning, the LNR People’s Militia HQ told RIA Novosti, adding that two people were injured.The incident took place in the city of Lugansk, the capital of LNR on Saturday morning, the LNR People’s Militia HQ told RIA Novosti, adding that two people were injured.
It is not clear at present whether the blast occurred inside the car or near the vehicle. The explosive - equivalent to 15 kg of TNT according to local officials - was tied to a traffic light, at a height of 3 feet above the ground.
“Plotnitsky is in a grave condition and is undergoing an operation,” a source told Interfax. “Plotnitsky is in serious condition and is undergoing an operation,” a source told Interfax.
The explosion also reportedly damaged the facades of the near-by buildings and shattered surrounding windows. Police have cordoned off the area where the explosion took place. The blast also reportedly damaged the facades of the nearby buildings and shattered surrounding windows. Police have cordoned off the area where the explosion took place.
“Today at 07:50 there was an assassination attempt on the head of the LNR. Facts at the scene point to a terrorist attack,” the LNR Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sergey Kozlov said, as cited by the Lugansk Informational Center. He added that the Lugansk authorities have already set up a working group to investigate the incident.“Today at 07:50 there was an assassination attempt on the head of the LNR. Facts at the scene point to a terrorist attack,” the LNR Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sergey Kozlov said, as cited by the Lugansk Informational Center. He added that the Lugansk authorities have already set up a working group to investigate the incident.
“Currently the condition of Igor Plotnitsky is stable, there is no threat to his life,” Kozlov added.“Currently the condition of Igor Plotnitsky is stable, there is no threat to his life,” Kozlov added.
Plotnitsky received shrapnel wounds, which caused damage to his liver and his spleen, a hospital source told Interfax.Plotnitsky received shrapnel wounds, which caused damage to his liver and his spleen, a hospital source told Interfax.
An advisor to the head of the Security Service of Ukraine Yury Tandit told the 112 Ukraine channel that Plotnitsky was deliberately targeted, adding that the LNR leader was in a serious condition. LNR police have said that they believe that Ukraine's security services are behind the attack. Aleksandr Zakharchenko, who heads the next-door, Donetsk People's Republic, said that he has been aware of potential assassination attempts on top officials from the two territories for at least a month.
“My sources report that an assassination attempt has been carried out,” he said. "Thank God this time the worst didn't happen," Zakharchenko told Lugansk media. 
A source in LNR General Prosecutor’s Office told Interfax that saboteurs could be behind the attack.
Viktor Poplavsky, an expert from Russia’s Defence Ministry, told the Life.ru news portal that he believed more than a kilo of explosives were used to create the bomb.
“If the bomb was planted in the car or under the car, there would have been practically no chance of survival,” he said, adding that the explosive device might have been placed somewhere near Plotnitsky’s car.
Plotnitsky became the head of LNR in August 2014, months after the authorities in Kiev launched a major military crackdown against rebels in eastern Ukraine.Plotnitsky became the head of LNR in August 2014, months after the authorities in Kiev launched a major military crackdown against rebels in eastern Ukraine.
In February 2015, Plotnitsky together with the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Aleksandr Zakharchenko, signed the Minsk-2 agreements regarding the peaceful settlement of the conflict between Kiev and the rebels in eastern Ukraine.In February 2015, Plotnitsky together with the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Aleksandr Zakharchenko, signed the Minsk-2 agreements regarding the peaceful settlement of the conflict between Kiev and the rebels in eastern Ukraine.
According to the UN, over 4,000 civilians have died in the conflict as of mid-November 2015, and more than 9,000 have been injured.According to the UN, over 4,000 civilians have died in the conflict as of mid-November 2015, and more than 9,000 have been injured.