The Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in the Kherson (southern) Ukrainian region occupied by Russian forces was “damaged” following a Ukrainian strike on Sunday, regional emergency services told Russian news agencies.
“Today [dimanche] At 10:00 am (0800 GMT), six Himars missiles were launched. Air defense units shot down five of them, one of which hit the lock of the Khakovka dam, which was damaged,” a representative of the emergency services was quoted as saying by Russian agents.
According to Russian occupation officials, Moscow “undermined the dam” two weeks ago, accusing kyiv of “lies”.
The Khakovka dam, which was taken at the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, makes it possible to supply water to the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014 in particular.
Erected on the Dnieper River in 1956 during the Soviet era, the work was partially constructed of concrete and earth.
It is one of the largest infrastructures of this type in Ukraine.
For several days, Russian occupation authorities have been carrying out “evacuations” of civilians in villages around the site in the face of a “possible missile attack” on the Khakovka dam, saying its destruction would lead to “flooding”. Left Bank of the Dnieper River”, according to the regional governor established by Moscow in Kherson, Vladimir Saldo.
If the dam bursts, “more than 80 areas, including Kherson, will find themselves in the zone of rapid flooding”, for his part, Mr. Zelensky warned.
“It could destroy the water supply for much of southern Ukraine” and affect the cooling of reactors at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which draws water from the 18 million cubic meter artificial lake, he warned.
Ukraine had requested an international monitoring mission.
Khakovka is about 60 km to the east, as the crow flies of Kherson, the first major city to fall into Russian hands in March.
