World
Dam Detonated In Southern Ukraine Leaving Locals Worried About Nuclear Consequences
Damage to the Kakhovka dam
The Kakhovka dam, situated on the Dnipro river in southern Ukraine, was destroyed on Tuesday (6 June), resulting in extensive flooding in the region.
This incident occurred ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive and poses a significant threat to the water supply of a nuclear plant.
Both Russia and Ukraine have placed blame on each other for the attack.
Kyiv has warned of "catastrophic consequences" that could impact numerous settlements, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which relies on water from the Dnipro river for cooling its reactor.
Oleksandr Prokudyn, the governor of Ukraine's Kherson region, stated that Russian forces were responsible for detonating the dam.
Consequently, several villages along the western bank of the Dnipro river, under Ukraine's control, were ordered to evacuate.
The water levels in the endangered area, including parts of the regional capital Kherson, are expected to reach critical levels.
In response to the explosion, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for an emergency security council meeting and attributed the incident to "Russian terrorists".
The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station holds severe consequences for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The power plant relies on water from the Kakhovka reservoir to cool its nuclear reactors. The impact of the flooding would extend beyond the immediate area and could potentially result in hundreds of thousands of casualties.
The flooding is expected to complicate Ukraine's plans for an amphibious assault in the region during the anticipated counteroffensive.
The Kakhovka dam and its associated hydroelectric power station, constructed in 1956, are among the country's major energy facilities. With a capacity of approximately 18 cubic kilometre of water, it supplies electricity to over 3 million people.
Videos circulating on social media displayed water gushing through a significant breach in the dam, originating from its reservoir. The reservoir also supplies a canal that provides water to the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.
During Putin's invasion last year, Russia captured the entire Kherson region, which is divided by the Dnipro river, before withdrawing from the regional capital in November.
Despite surrendering Kherson to Ukraine, Putin still officially regards the city as part of Russia and considers its residents to be Russian citizens, following an unsuccessful attempt to annex four southeastern Ukrainian regions prior to the retreat.
Both Ukraine and Russia have consistently accused each other of shelling the dam, the hydroelectric station, and the nuclear power plant.
Zelenskyy stated last year that Russia had planted mines in the area while preparing for its retreat, warning that it could result in a "large-scale disaster" and disrupt water supplies to Crimea.
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