Head of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant freed after being kidnapped by Russian forces

The head of the nuclear agency of the United Nations (UN)Rafale Grossi, informed this Monday, 3, that the director of the nuclear power plant in zaporizhia was released after an arrest in which the Ukraine attributed to Russia and called it an act of terror. “I welcome the release of Ihor Murashov, Director General of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant; I have received confirmation that Murashov has returned to his family safely,” Grossi said on Twitter on Monday. According to the Ukrainians, a Russian patrol detained Ihor Murashov on Friday, 30, as he traveled from Europe’s biggest nuclear plant to the city of Enerhodar, where many of the plant’s employees live. The Ukrainian team continues to operate the plant under conditions that the International Atomic Energy Agency says put safety at risk. On Saturday, the IAEA said it had contacted “relevant authorities” without mentioning Russia by name and that it had been told Murashov was in “temporary detention”. The IAEA said Saturday that Murashov’s detention “has an immediate and serious impact on decision-making to ensure the safety of the plant”, adding to existing safety concerns at the facility. Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the bombing that damaged parts of the plant, and the IAEA called for the establishment of a buffer zone around the site to reduce the risk of a potentially catastrophic accident. Grossi is expected to hold talks in Moscow and Kiev this week.

*With information from Reuters