Former Head of Russian Space Agency Wounded in Ukrainian Shelling

The former director general of Russia's space agency said he was injured in an attack after someone leaked his location.

A shell hit a hotel on the outskirts of Donetsk, a Russian-occupied city in the east of Ukraine. He confirmed his injury through his Telegram channel. There is a metal fragment above my shoulder blade. He wrote that an operation was about to take place. Several other people were hurt. Someone leaked his location, according to the man.

He was removed from his position in July after threatening to restrict access to the International Space Station's robotic arm.

Images of Rogozin in full battle gear surfaced online and were met with ridicule. A volunteer unit called "Tsar Wolves" is providing military support to Russian troops.

While at the helm of Roscosmos, Rogozin was a fiery and combative person. He spoke out in support of the war and was dismayed by the international sanctions against Russia. Russia has had a long-term partnership with NASA and the European Space Agency, and the head of the Russian space agency constantly threatened to leave the International Space Station.

The dismissal of the hot-headed political figure may have been a way to de-escalate Russia's relations with its space partners, but he is still making trouble on his own.

NASA condemns the Russian space agency's war propaganda.