Sergei Ryzhov, the chief designer of the light water VVER nuclear reactors built by Russia in foreign countries, including India, was among those killed in the plane crash in Russia that claimed at least 44 lives.
Russia has built many nuclear power plants abroad with the VVER reactor, including one in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.
The whole leadership of the designers units of Russia’s state nuclear corporation was killed when a Tu-134 passenger plane crash landed in the northern republic of Karelia.
They were all were going to inspect a local plant in Petrozavodsk for exploring the possibility of placing nuclear industry’s orders there.