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A total of six blocks: The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
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Uncredited / dpa
The Ukrainian head of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is free again after his arrest.
This was reported by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on Monday in Vienna.
"I have received confirmation that Mr. Muraschow has returned safely to his family," Grossi wrote on Twitter.
According to Ukrainian sources, Ihor Murashov was kidnapped by Moscow troops on Friday.
Russian authorities, however, spoke to the IAEA of a temporary arrest.
Grossi had warned at the weekend that the arrest of the nuclear power plant boss would have serious repercussions on the safety management of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
In addition, this would further increase the psychological pressure on the other Ukrainian nuclear plant employees in Zaporizhia.
The IAEA has repeatedly highlighted the stress faced by staff while maintaining operations at the power plant despite the war happening in the immediate vicinity.
The Agency has pointed out that long-term stress can lead to operator errors in the power plant.
The nuclear power plant has been occupied by Russian troops since March and has come under repeated fire ever since.
Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for this.
Power plant on annexed territory
Zaporizhia is one of the Ukrainian regions annexed by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin around seven months after the start of the war.
The other regions are Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson.
The incorporation of the regions, parts of which Russia has not even conquered, in violation of international law, is not recognized internationally.
On Sunday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi described the annexations by Russia as meaningless.
"As soon as the Ukrainian flag has returned, no one remembers the Russian farce with any papers and any annexations," said Zelenskyy in his evening video address.
mamk/dpa-AFX