In southern Ukraine, a significant Nova Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power plant have been demolished, resulting in flooding near the front lines on Tuesday. The facility, located on the Dnieper River, which acts as a boundary between Ukrainian and Russian forces, experienced a surge of water as it was destroyed.
Nova Kakhovka dam live updates
In response, authorities from both sides instructed residents to evacuate. While Ukraine’s military intelligence agency accused Russian forces of deliberately causing the explosion at the Nova Kakhovka dam, the Kremlin refuted these claims and attributed the damage to “Ukrainian sabotage.” The international atomic energy watchdog cautioned the conflicting parties against compromising the safety of the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, but assured that there is currently “no immediate risk” to it.
Both Russia and Ukraine have previously accused each other of plotting to destroy the dam, which is under the control of Russian forces in southern Ukraine. This dam serves as the water source for a canal that supplies water to the Crimean Peninsula in the south.
Social media footage captured from aerial views exhibited extensive destruction to the dam, with sections spanning hundreds of feet seemingly absent. However, satellite images taken on June 5 and analyzed by The Washington Post did not reveal any gaps in the structure.
According to Ukrainian officials, the resulting deluge endangered thousands of people and complicated evacuation efforts. The interior ministry specifically accused Russian forces of shelling in Kherson as residents attempted to evacuate the area.