A massive Soviet-era hydroelectric dam in the part of Kherson (southern Ukraine) controlled by the Russian armed forces was destroyed today, releasing a huge amount of water, according to the two sides, who blame each other for the destruction.
Videos circulating on social networking sites show very powerful explosions at the dam in Nova Kahovka, on the Dnieper River.
Other videos show huge amounts of water pouring out of the dam’s wreckage and shocked bystanders.
BREAKING: Video shows the Kakhovka hydro-electric dam in southern Ukraine has been destroyed pic.twitter.com/DePGbQUHRD
— BNO News (@BNONews) June 6, 2023
The dam, thirty meters high and 3.2 kilometers long, was built in 1956 on the Dnieper, as part of the construction of a hydroelectric plant in Nova Kahovka.
In its reservoir there are 18 cubic kilometers of water and from it supplied with water both the Crimean peninsula – annexed by Russia in 2014 – and the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, the largest in Europe, which needs an uninterrupted supply of water to cool the reactors.
With the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine destroyed, a wave of water is expected to flood dozens of towns in the coming hours pic.twitter.com/qLHDou2fv6
— BNO News (@BNONews) June 6, 2023
The opposing sides blamed each other for the destruction of the dam. “The [dam in] Kakhovka was blown up by the Russian occupation forces,” the command of the southern sector of the Ukrainian army said on Facebook. The same source added that “the extent of the disaster, the speed and volume of the water and the areas that are likely to be flooded are being investigated”.
According to officials close to Moscow who spoke to Russian news agencies, the dam was shelled by the Ukrainians. An official stationed by Moscow in the region spoke of a “very serious terrorist act”, that refers to a Ukrainian attack.
The evacuation of communities in the region has already begun, Khersons regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Within five hours the water will have reached a critical level,” Mr. Prokudin warned via Telegram at 06:45 [local and Greek time].
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The following video, which is going viral, is said to capture the moment of the explosion, but its authenticity has not been verified yet:
#BREAKING: The moment that the Nova Kakhovka dam was blown up was purportedly captured on video. If this footage is real, it would certainly refute claims that there was no explosion. pic.twitter.com/GMaarExZEn
— Ukraine Front Lines (@EuromaidanPR) June 6, 2023
The hydroelectric dam was partially destroyed by “multiple strikes” by Ukraine, local authorities appointed by Moscow claimed today.
Floodwaters continue to rise in Antonivka, Kherson Oblast. pic.twitter.com/NRO7WvviQ0
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 6, 2023
“Kakhovka dam was hit by multiple strikes” overnight, Nova Kakhovka mayor Vladimir Leonidev said in a Telegram message post, claiming that the strikes destroyed the dam’s valves and created an “uncontrollable flow of water”.
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