Ukraine: Energoatom says director of Zaporizhia power plant arrested by Russia

Ukraine’s nuclear operator Energotom announced on Saturday that Russia has arrested Igor Muracho, the general manager of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.

The plant, Europe’s largest, occupied by Russian troops since March 4, has been targeted by bombings several times in recent months, with Kiev and Moscow blaming each other and raising fears of a nuclear accident.

Energoatom boss Petro Kodin said on social media that Mr Murachov was arrested by “Russian patrols” at around 4:00pm (1300 GMT) while traveling from the plant to the Russian-controlled city of Ernogorsk.

According to him, the vehicle carrying the director of the plant was stopped, the latter was extracted from the car, and then “blindfolded, drove to an unknown place”.

Mr. Muratsov “assumes full and exclusive responsibility for nuclear security,” Mr. Godin said.

A nuclear power plant officially connected by Russia on Friday is located in one of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia.

A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited the plant in September. The UN said that a security zone should be established around the place.