Ukraine’s nuclear power provider has accused Russia of “kidnapping” the head of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, a facility now occupied by Vladimir Putin’s troops.
Russian forces seized the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ihor Murashov, around 4pm on Friday, Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom said.
Energoatom said Russian troops stopped Mr Murashov’s car, blindfolded him and took him to an undisclosed location.
“His detention by (Russia) jeopardizes the safety of Ukraine and Europe’s largest nuclear power plant,” said Energoatom President Petro Kotin said.
Mr Kotin demanded Russia immediately release Mr Murashov.
Russia did not immediately acknowledge seizing the plant director.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, which is still being run by Ukrainian technicians after it was seized by Russian troops, has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire of the war.
The plant's last reactor was shut down in September amid ongoing shelling near the facility.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has staff at the plant, did not immediately acknowledge Energoatom's claim of Murashov’s capture by the Russians.
Meanwhile at 25 people were killed and 50 injured on Friday after a Russian attack on a civilian convoy near Zaporizhzhia, which sits on the banks of the Dnipro river in Ukraine’s southeast.
Ukraine’s general prosecutor’s office said Russian shelling left deep craters and sent shrapnel tearing through the humanitarian convoy’s vehicles, killing their passengers.
Nearby buildings were demolished. Trash bags, blankets and, for one victim, a blood-soaked towel, were used to cover bodies.
Ukraine said those travelling in the cars had been trying to pick up friends and relatives to take them out of areas occupied by Russia as the Kremlin prepared to annex the area and three others.
Elsewhere, thousands of Russian soldiers were encircled by Ukrainian forces in a key occupied town in the Donetsk region, Kyiv said.
Fighting continued in Lyman throughout the morning.
At around 11.20am a video was posted to social media purportedly showing Ukrainian soldiers raising the country’s national blue and yellow flag at the entrance to the town.
Additional reporting by agencies.
