MOSCOW: The Kremlin has accused Kyiv of “deliberate sabotage” in the recent attack on the Kakhovka dam, a major dam located in southern Ukraine, which has raised concerns about the safety of the region and the potential flooding of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia alleges that Kyiv intended to sever water access to Russian-occupied Crimea.
Both Russia and Ukraine have exchanged accusations regarding the damage inflicted on the Kakhovka dam, situated on the Dnipro River. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared that the attack was “deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side,” emphasizing that one of its objectives was to deprive Crimea of water. Peskov firmly rejected Ukraine and the West’s claims that Moscow’s forces were responsible for the blast that caused the damage, placing the entire blame on the “Kyiv regime.”
President Vladimir Putin is being kept informed about the situation by the Russian defense ministry, according to Peskov. He further claimed that the water supply to a crucial canal in Crimea was rapidly decreasing, insinuating that Ukraine’s actions were contributing to this decline.
The repercussions of the dam’s damage are extensive, with the potential for flooding endangering thousands of lives and posing a threat to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) away.
Dam Attack Results in Spillage of 150 Tonnes of Engine Oil
Ukraine has reported that the attack resulted in the spillage of 150 tonnes of engine oil into the Dnipro River. Daria Zarivna, communications adviser to the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, warned of the negative environmental impact caused by the incident, adding that there was a risk of further leakage exceeding 300 tons.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed concern over the potential long-lasting damage to the region’s ecosystems, stating that the floods from the dam could lead to irreparable harm. Kuleba also highlighted the tragic loss of animal life in the Nova Kakhovka zoo due to rising water levels, emphasizing that this was only the beginning of the wildlife’s suffering in southern Ukraine. He condemned the situation as an “ecocide” on a regional scale, extending beyond Ukraine’s borders.
