The Russian official appointed to be the commandant for the southeastern Ukrainian city of Berdiansk was injured when his car was blown up near the building of the civil-military administration, the mayor’s office said in a telegram post on Tuesday. 

“Today, September 6, in the very center of Berdiansk, near the building of the Military Civil Administration, the car of the city commandant, Artem Bardin, was blown up,” the mayor’s office said. As a result of the explosion, the city commandant was hospitalized in severe condition. Doctors are providing him with necessary medical care. "

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the explosion, but pro-Russian authorities blamed Ukraine.

“The terrorists of the Kyiv regime continue to try to intimidate residents of the liberated territories,” the pro-Russian mayor’s office said. 

There were no additional casualties but another three cars were damaged, authorities also said.