Good Morning,
The Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine has been partially destroyed sending devastating amount of water rushing out threatening to swamp some 80 villages, and forcing the evacuations of thousands of people.
Who destroyed the dam is a mystery with Ukraine saying no doubt it was Russia, as it’s soldiers have occupied the dam and the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant since the war started last year.
President Zelensky who called an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis, has in the past warned Russian troops had mined parts of the dam and warned of catastrophe if the dam was damaged.
The nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, uses water from the reservoir for cooling and it’s unknown at this point how the loss of the dam will effect the safety of the facility.
Russia claims Ukrainian terrorists are responsible for the blowing up the dam, and in the past has accused Ukraine of shelling the structure which stands 90 feet tall and 2 miles long.
11 of 28 spans were destroyed, so very quickly rushing waters are rushing downstream leaving only several hours for residents to evacuate.
The waters also flow to the Russian occupied Crimea, and loss of the reservoir will choke the peninsula off from fresh water supply.
Many have already noted the waters in the Kakhovka was one metre higher than is normal for this time of year, but the reasons why the gates of the dam were not being opened, were for obvious reasons not explained considering Russian troops control the area.
Zelensky now tweets “Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. It’s only Ukraine's victory that will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else. All services are working. I have convened the National Security and Defense Council. Please spread official and verified information only.”
https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1665952784665964545?s=20
The crisis, comes as Ukraine is starting it’s counter offensive to attempt to expel Russian troops occupying eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces are said to be losing ground now around Bakhmut, and in other areas Ukrainian forces have stepped up shelling and probing attacks on Russian positions.
This is the initial stage of the Ukrainian counter attack, which will focus on 1500-2000 kilometres of occupied front lines, and will unfold with combined arms attacks, using western weapons and NATO trained Ukrainian brigades.
Updates to follow on the Kakhovka dam.
Dana