G7 condemns Russia’s kidnapping of Ukraine nuclear plant leadership

The Group of Seven (G7) industrialised nations condemned Russia's kidnapping of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant leadership and called for the immediate return of full control of the plant to Ukraine.

This is stated in the G7 statement, reports Reuters.

"We condemn Russia's repeated kidnapping of Ukrainian ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant) leadership and staff," G7 Nonproliferation Directors General said in a statement dated Saturday.

"We urge Russia to immediately return full control of the ZNPP to its rightful sovereign owner, Ukraine," it said.

Russian forces captured the nuclear plant – Europe's largest – in early March.

Ukraine's state nuclear energy agency Energoatom accused russia of detaining two senior employees at the plant.

Energoatom said Russian invaders on Monday "abducted" the plant's IT head Oleh Kostiukov and assistant general director, Oleh Osheka.

Energoatom had called on International Atomic Energy Agency chief, Rafael Grossi, "to make every effort" to secure their release.

Another plant official, Valeriy Martyniuk, had been released, according to Ukrainian reports.