Russian troops have detained the director of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear electricity plant, Ukraine's state nuclear regulator Enerhoatom says.
It says Ihor Murashov modified into held as his car modified into on its way from the capacity to the nearby metropolis of Enerhodar at about 16:00 close by time (13:00 GMT) on Friday.
He modified into then blindfolded and is notion to have been taken to a prison facility in Enerhodar, Enerhoatom's president knowledgeable.
Moscow seized Europe's biggest nuclear plant in March, and saved on its Ukrainian staff.
Both Ukraine and Russia accuse each special of time and again shelling the plant, amid worldwide problems that this can bring about a number one radiation incident in Europe.
In a declaration posted on Saturday, Enerhoatom president Petro Kotin stated that Murasov "bears a vital and ambitious duty for the nuclear and radiological safety" of the nuclear plant.
In a declaration posted on Saturday, Enerhoatom president Petro Kotin stated that Mr. Murashov Murasov has "significant and distinct responsibility for the nuclear and radiological protection" of the nuclear plant.
He stated Friday's detention "jeopardises the protection of operation of Ukraine and Europe's biggest nuclear energy plant".
In addition, he knowledgeable the BBC the detention happened as Russian President Vladimir Putin added the annexation of four regions of Ukraine which include Zaporizhzhia.
Mr. Kontin said representatives of Russia's nuclear state business enterprise Rosatom had visited the plant "definitely days ago". They said the electricity plant is probably transferred from Ukrainian control to Rosatom's control in keeping with the annexation of the region.
Mr. Kontin said he believed the float to kidnap Mr. Musharov modified into a try to try and get him "They're looking for him to take a shipment of [Zaporizhya nuclear power plant] float from Ukraine to Rosatom.
But I am positive he is in competition to it. Many times, in advance than he refused to definitely take delivery of the Russian worldwide and so on," Mr. Kontin said
. The plant's president appealed to the International Atomic Energy Agency to name for the instantly release of the plant's chief, accusing Russia of "nuclear terrorism".
The six-reactor Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is located near Enerhodar, withinside the occupied part of Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Ukraine says Russian troops are the use of the station as an army base and that employees are in effect held at gunpoint.
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson annexation, Donetsk and Luhansk regions - a float widely condemned via Ukraine and the West.
Moscow does now not absolutely control any of the four regions in Ukraine's east and south.