The Ukrainian military says Russian forces used explosives to destroy the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, threatening to flood downstream from the city of Kherson.
The Southern Operations Command of the Ukrainian army today accused Russian forces of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam on the Dnieper River, stressing that the facility is located in the Moscow-controlled area of Kherson province.
"We are determining the extent of the damage, the speed and flow of water, as well as areas that may be flooded," the agency said.
Vladimir Leontiev, the Russian-appointed mayor of Nova Kahhovka, denied that there had been an explosion at the dam. However, Russia's TASS news agency later reported that the dam had been destroyed, without providing further details.
Image of what is believed to be the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam breaking on the morning of June 6. Video : Telegram/RVvoenkor
The comments came after several pro-Russian social media accounts posted videos showing a section of the Nova Kakhovka dam collapsing, sending water from the reservoir rushing downstream, and accusing the Ukrainian military of destroying the site.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the information.
The Nova Kakhovka Dam, located about 70 km northeast of the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson, is responsible for storing water from the Dnieper River, serving the hydroelectric power plant of the same name, as well as agricultural irrigation and river navigation in Kherson Oblast.
Location of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. Graphics: DW
The Kakhovka reservoir, with a capacity of about 18 billion cubic meters, supplies cooling water to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Crimean Canal. Western experts and Ukrainian officials have warned that the damage to the Nova Kakhovka dam could flood downstream residential areas, including the city of Kherson.
Vu Anh (According to Reuters, RIA Novosti )
Source link
Comment (0)