As Igor Murachov was on his way from the power station to the town of Ernogodar, he was reportedly stopped by a Russian patrol and then “drove blindfolded to an unknown destination”.
Russia has arrested Igor Murachov, the general manager of the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant, located under Russian control in southern Ukraine, the Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom announced on Saturday (October 1st).
Occupied since March 4 by Russian troops, the plant, the largest in Europe, has been targeted many times in recent months by bombings of which kyiv and Moscow accuse each other, raising fears of a nuclear accident.
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Igor Murachov was arrested by a “russian patrolaround 4:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m.) as he traveled from the plant to the Russian-controlled town of Ernogodar, Energoatom boss Petro Kotin said on social media.
“Exclusive Liability”
According to him, the vehicle transporting the director of the plant was stopped and the latter was extracted from the car then “drove blindfolded to an unknown destination“. Igor Murachov “bears full and exclusive responsibility for nuclear securityadded Petro Kotin.
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The nuclear power plant is located in the Zaporizhia region, one of the Ukrainian territories officially annexed by Russia on Friday. A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited the plant in September. The UN agency advocates the establishment of a security zone around the site.