Russia accused of ‘kidnapping’ head of Ukraine nuclear plant

Ukraine's nuclear power provider has accused Russia of kidnapping the head of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, a facility now under the control of Russian forces.

Ihor Murashov, the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, was seized by Russian forces on Friday afternoon, Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom said.

"There is no knowledge of his fate," Energoatom President Petro Kotin wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Russian troops stopped Murashov's car, blindfolded him and then took him to an undisclosed location, according to Energoatom.

"His detention by [Russia] jeopardizes the safety of Ukraine and Europe's largest nuclear power plant," Kotin said.

Kotin called for Murashov's immediate release.

Russia did not immediately acknowledge seizing the facility's director. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) later said that Russia had told it that "the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was temporarily detained to answer questions."

The IAEA said that it "has been actively seeking clarifications and hopes for a prompt and satisfactory resolution of this matter."

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Ukrainian technicians continued running it after Russian troops seized control the power station and surrounding area in March.

The plant's last reactor was shut down in September amid ongoing shelling near the facility in southeastern Ukraine.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has staff at the plant, said it contacted Russian officials over the kidnapping claim.

"We have contacted Russian authorities and are requesting clarifications," a spokesperson for the UN nuclear watchdog said.

The IAEA has warned that fighting risks igniting a nuclear catastrophe and has called for a "safety and security zone" to be set around the plant.

Zaporizhzhia is one of the four Ukrainian regions illegally annexed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.