The general director of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine was arrested by Russian troops yesterday, the stateowned company Energoatom said. Ihor Murashov was arrested after leaving the place and heading to the city of Enerhodar. The information was leaked to the press by the head of the state company, Petro Kotin.
Zaporizhzhia is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and is now occupied by Russian troops. Hours before Murashov’s arrest, Russian President Vladimir Putin formalized the annexation of four Ukrainian regions to his territory: Luhansk and Donetsk to the east, and Kherson and Zaporizhia to the south.
“[Murashov] was removed from the car and driven blindfolded in an unknown direction,” said the head of the stateowned company, adding that the whereabouts of the plant’s general director are not yet known.
Russia has not yet publicly commented on the matter.
Kotin said he was appealing to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, “to take all possible emergency measures to release Murashov as a matter of urgency.”
Ukraine says detention is illegal
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “strongly condemns Russia’s unlawful detention” of Zaporizhia.
The nuclear power plant has been the focus of tensions in recent weeks after Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of attacking the site, fueling international fears of a nuclear catastrophe.
“The crime is another act of Russia’s state terrorism and constitutes a serious violation of international law. Russia must release him immediately,” added Petro Kotin.
Murashov “has primary and sole responsibility for the nuclear and radiological safety” of the nuclear power plant, according to the head of Energoatom.
(*With information from Portal, RFI and AFP)