A dam located in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine collapsed early on Tuesday, causing a huge environmental catastrophe. The flood water is estimated to reach its peak during Wednesday and Thursday.
Sari Taussi,
Roni Kuronen
The Ukrainian war was closely monitored by a think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has not yet been able to make an independent assessment of who is responsible for the destruction of the Kahovka dam.
However, the think tank says that the estimates presented by the leaders of Western countries support its earlier prediction that Russia would benefit from the destruction of the dam significantly more than Ukraine. More than 80 settlements along the river are threatened by floods.
Flooding in the lower reaches of the Dnieper also makes the river wider, making crossing the river even more challenging for Ukraine. Crossing the river is not necessary for the Russian troops grouped in defensive positions.
The destruction of the dam forced Ukrainian troops to retreat from the floodwaters, while Russia aimed artillery fire at Ukrainian positions.
Although it is officially too early to say who blew up the Kahovka dam, there was never a moment’s doubt in Ukraine that Russian forces were not behind it, says our reporter Maxim Fedorov in his commentary. Kiev accused Russia of natural destruction and technological terrorism.
Explosions were heard from the dam
According to ISW, both Ukrainian and Russian sources have said that they heard the sounds of an explosion from the Kahovka hydroelectric power plant on Tuesday morning. After this, it was reported about the water rushing through the dam and the rapid rise of the Dnieper River’s level.
According to Ukraine, 80 settlements are in the area where the flood is expected to reach. Russia also announced that it had evacuated people from several areas.
According to the authorities in charge of hydropower in Ukraine, the dam basin is expected to be completely emptied within four days. The flood may extend 120 kilometers from the dam.
“The real flood damage will be resolved in a week at the earliest”
Editor of Antti Kuronen is in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine. Refugees from the Herson region are gathering in the city. Kuronen, states that the real flood damage will only become clear later, in a week or two.
People have been evacuated from the side controlled by Ukraine, but there is no clear picture of the situation in the areas occupied by Russia. Kuronen says that people do not get enough information because Russia has blocked radio and telecommunications.
Kuronen says that journalists have not been allowed all the way to the beach in Kherson, but he saw how a lot of rescue equipment was brought to the scene.