A critical dam on the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine suffered significant damage overnight on Tuesday, raising concerns about the safety of a nearby nuclear power plant and surrounding communities. The cause of the damage remains unclear.
Authorities in Ukraine began evacuating thousands of people living downstream of the dam in the Kherson region due to the excessive water that is expected to cause severe flooding in a few hours.
The Dam is Located Near the War Zone.
The New York Times reviewed video footage of the dam, located in the town of Nova Kakhovka, which reveals that a huge volume of water is flowing freely through the dam, but the cause of destruction is not evident.
The Dnipro River barrier and its surrounding infrastructure have been damaged due to the ongoing conflict in the southern Kherson region. Last year, Russian forces took control of the dam and a nearby hydroelectric plant. Recent satellite imagery showed fresh damage to a bridge adjacent to the dam just a few days before its destruction on Tuesday.
According to Ukrhydroenergo, Ukraine’s hydro power company, an explosion inside the engine room caused the destruction which was under Russian control. The power plant cannot be restored, according to the statement.
Russia and Ukraine Trade Blame.
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of plotting to blow up the dam for months. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency head, Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, claimed that Russia had rigged the dam with explosives in October last year. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military officials blamed the destruction on Russian troops on Tuesday. However, Vladimir Leontiev, Nova Kakhovka’s Russian-appointed mayor, attributed the damage to shelling but did not indicate who was responsible for it.
People living in the Region are at Great Risk.
Communities along the waterway, including about 16,000 people in the “critical zone” on the Ukrainian-controlled right bank of the Dnipro River, are at risk of being flooded and washed away. Additionally, the destruction of the dam could cause a disruption in vital services such as drinking water, agriculture, and cooling of the nearby Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has previously sparked concerns about its safety.
Experts indicate that the destruction of the dam also poses significant risks to nearby ports, grain elevators, and the surrounding ecosystem.
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