The head of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which is occupied by Russian troops, Ihor Murashov has been arrested. Russian authorities informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday that the director general of Europe's largest nuclear power plant was "temporarily detained to answer questions," an IAEA spokesman said in Vienna.

According to Ukrainian sources, Murashov was kidnapped by Moscow troops. The President of the Ukrainian operating company Enerhoatom, Petro Kotin, said that the day before the power plant boss had been stopped on the street by a Russian patrol at the Enerhodar nuclear power plant site, dragged out of the car and taken blindfolded to an unknown location. Russia has occupied the nuclear power plant since early March.

"There is no knowledge of his fate," Kotin said on the Telegram news channel. He accused Russia of nuclear terrorism against the management and employees of the power plant. Murashov, who bears the main responsibility for the safe functioning and nuclear safety of the plant, must be released immediately. Kotin also called on the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, to campaign for Murashov's release. The IAEA contacted the Russian authorities and demanded clarification.

The nuclear power plant had been repeatedly shot at. Both the Russian occupying forces and the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly warned of a possible nuclear incident with massive repercussions for the whole of Europe. The IAEA advocates rapid further talks about a ceasefire zone around the nuclear power plant. According to its management, the state-owned Russian nuclear company Rosatom, which controls the power plant together with Russian units, is ready to talk about the technical aspects of a protection zone.

Notice of kidnapping