Anti-Russian power plant workers have “disappeared” as Russian forces delayed a life-or-death nuclear inspection by shelling the complex, Ukraine has claimed.
Kyiv’s intelligence says some local crews at the Zaporizhzhia nuke plant have been removed before inspectors can get to them and others were tortured.
The chilling warning came as shelling continued near Europe’s biggest power plant, initially delaying a long-awaited International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visit to the southern Ukraine plant.
The IAEA's monitoring mission to the under-fire Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant may turn out to be "shorter than planned," a Ukrainian source said.
This is because of security concerns and came as heavily-armed Russian troops escorted the IAEA delegation to the site.
During what is believed to be a lull in shelling the delegation passed through checkpoints and arrived at the plant shortly after 2pm local time (midday UK).
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said: “Employees of the station are subjected to devastating repression.
“Some of the workers, whom the occupiers consider insufficiently "charitable", have disappeared.
“Their fate and current whereabouts are unknown.”
The statement went on to say: “Some of the employees who, for various reasons, agreed to cooperate with the occupiers…” were well treated.
It claims these people are colluding with Russian “technicians” believed to be Moscow’s spies to present a “necessary picture for the Kremlin” in a classic propaganda bid.
The agency added: “We call on the world community, all authoritative international organisations and governments to contribute to the effective and objective work of the IAEA Mission .
“In the course of their work, all the circumstances that led to the emergence of a dangerous situation that could lead to an accident at Europe's largest nuclear facility must be clarified.”
It follows months of dangerous shelling close to the plant which the UN has warned could spark a catastrophe far worse than the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in the city of Zaporizhzhia, 34 miles from the plant, he was aware of "increased military activity in the area" but would press ahead with the plan to visit the facility and meet staff.
He added: "Having come so far, we are not stopping.”
The IAEA inspectors, wearing body armour and travelling in white, armoured land cruisers with UN markings on their sides, drove out of the city escorted by the police and were held at the first checkpoint outside the city.
Oleksandr Starukh, the head of the Zaporizhzhia region, said Russian troops had shelled the route of the IAEA mission.
Ukrainian officials have welcomed the IAEA visit, expressing hope that it will lead to the demilitarisation of the plant.
They say Russia has been using the plant as a shield to hit towns, knowing it will be hard for Kyiv's forces to return fire.
They have also accused Russian forces of shelling the plant, which Russian officials deny.
Both sides have claimed battlefield successes amid a new
Ukrainian push to recapture territory in the south.
"It is a very slow process, because we value people," said Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Meanwhile fierce fighting has broken out as Ukraine doubles down on its counter-offensive in the south.
