Around 16,000 people are in a “critical zone” after the Kakhovka power plant dam exploded.
Ukraine accuses Russia of being behind the “terrorist attack”.
– It is a sign of increasing desperation before the offensive, says Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lidén to TV4 Nyheterna.
Around 80 communities are in the risk zone after the Kakhovka power plant dam in Ukraine exploded during the night towards Tuesday. About 16,000 people will be affected as water levels rise during the day, according to Ukraine.
It is still unclear what is behind the explosion, but Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of being behind the “terrorist attack”.
“The destruction of the Kachov Dam today puts thousands of civilians at risk and causes serious environmental damage. It is an outrageous act that once again shows the brutality of Russia’s war in Ukraine,” writes NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Twitter.
Will affect the counteroffensive
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lidén tells TV4 Nyheterna that there are many indications that Russia is behind it. According to him, the attack will have major consequences, both military and humanitarian.
– It is of course a war crime, one more in the crowd. It is also something that will become noticeable for Ukraine, both in the short and long term, he says.
When the dam is now blown up, it means for Ukraine that it will be more difficult to cross the river during the offensive which, according to many experts, is already underway.
The lieutenant colonel: “Decisions at a higher level”
– I think the main purpose is military, but then Russia possibly sees it as a bonus that you can cause great devastation, says Peter Lidén.
According to the lieutenant colonel, a concern on the Russian side is the basis for the attack.
– I don’t think this is improvised at a lower level, but the decision has probably been made at a higher level. It is a sign of increasing desperation before the offensive, he says.
The dam collapse: This we know
During the night of Tuesday, the Kakhovka power plant dam in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine burst.
Both Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of destroying the dam.
Early on Tuesday morning, an evacuation of ten communities near the dam began. It includes at least 16,000 people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called a crisis meeting with the National Security and Defense Council.
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency believes that there are initially no risk factors for the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya.
On the other hand, the hydroelectric plant in Kakhovka has been completely destroyed after an explosion in an engine room, according to Ukraine’s state hydroelectric company.