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Russia accused of 'kidnapping' head of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine

TN World Desk

Updated Oct 1, 2022, 14:21 IST

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (File image)

Photo : AP

Amidst facing worldwide condemnation over the annexation of Ukrainian regions, Russia has once again landed in hot waters after it was accused of 'kidnapping' the head of Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Notably, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, now occupied by Russian troops, is situated in a Ukrainian region that Russia has moved to annex.

Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom noted that the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Ihor Murashov was detained by the Russian troops around 4 pm on Friday hours after Putin signed treaties to annex Russia-controlled Ukrainian territories. "His detention by (Russia) jeopardizes the safety of Ukraine and Europe’s largest nuclear power plant," said Energoatom President Petro Kotin.

Kotin further demanded the immediate release of Murashov.

Russia, however, did not acknowledge the accusation immediately. Notably, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been in controversy for quite a long time since the Russian troops seized the power station. The plant's last reactor was shut down recently owing to ongoing shelling near the power station.

Meanwhile, Russia's annexation of Ukraine invited harsh reactions in the international community. 'NATO rejects Putin's land grab,' said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in response to Putin's announcement of the annexation of 4 Ukrainian regions.

"The sham referendums were engineered in Moscow and imposed on Ukraine in total violation of international law. This land grab is illegal and illegitimate. NATO allies do not and will not recognise any of these territories as part of Russia," Stoltenberg said.

"We call on all States to reject Russia's blatant attempts at territorial conquest. These land are Ukraine, Donetsk is Ukraine, Luhansk is Ukraine, Kherson is Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia is Ukraine, just like Crimea is Ukraine," he added.

Stoltenberg also threatened Russia with 'severe' consequences if it resorted to the use of nuclear arms in Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Kyiv would not negotiate with Russia as long as President Vladimir Putin is in power. "Ukraine will not hold any negotiations with Russia as long as Putin is the president of the Russian Federation. We will negotiate with the new president," Zelensky said.

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