An explosion has occurred at the Nova Kakhovka dam in the Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine, leading to flooding in an area already affected by months of conflict. According to reports from Russian state-owned news agencies RIA and TAS, the water level around the dam has risen by five meters, resulting in the flooding of several downstream islands. TAS stated that half of the 3.2-kilometer-long dam has been destroyed, with the collapse of the remaining portion still ongoing.
The Ukrainian state hydroelectric agency has declared that the plant has been “totally destroyed” following a blast in its engine room and is beyond restoration. Russian and Ukrainian officials have blamed each other for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in the Kherson region.
Ukraine’s military, specifically the South command of its armed forces, claimed that Russian occupying forces were responsible for blowing up the dam. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred to “Russian terrorists” in a Telegram post, asserting that the destruction of the dam is evidence that they should be expelled from Ukrainian land. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has issued evacuation calls for residents in affected areas.
The dam, constructed in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, plays a crucial role in supplying water to the Crimean peninsula and the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The destruction of the dam has raised concerns about the safety of the nuclear facility. Ukraine’s state atomic agency, Energoatom, stated that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant is currently under control, with the cooling pond filled to sufficient levels for the station’s needs. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that there is no immediate nuclear safety risk at the plant.
The Russian-backed governor of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, expressed concerns about potential water shortages in the North Crimea Canal, which carries fresh water to the peninsula from the Dnipro river. The canal had previously been blocked by Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, leading to water shortages on the peninsula. Aksyonov stated that Crimea currently has sufficient water reserves, but the level of risk will become clearer in the coming days.
The situation surrounding the dam explosion and subsequent flooding remains fluid, with ongoing investigations and monitoring of the impact on the surrounding areas and infrastructure.
