Ukraine announced the first evacuations from flooded villages in Kherson after the attack on the Kazhovka dam.

Military officers kyiv Condemnation Tuesday morning explosion by Russian forces from the dam GakovkaIt runs through the province on the Dnipro River Gersonin the south UkraineThis has forced the emergency evacuation of residents of the affected area.

“The Russian army has carried out another terrorist attack. They blew up the Khakovka dam,” Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson provincial military administration, said in a video to residents of the region.

He Southern Command The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported and indicated that infrastructure had been destroyed The extent of the damage is under investigation. Also the speed and volume of water will affect flood prone areas.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, He posted a message on social media saying it was an act of terrorism and attached a video of the damage.

“Destruction of a hydroelectric dam Gakovka Confirming to the whole world that they must be expelled from all corners of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be spared to them because they are using every meter for terrorism,” declared the President.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrei Yermak He described the dam burst “War Crime” and “Environment”And released a video showing how water is overflowing from the damaged dam.

“The Russians are responsible for the lack of drinking water for the people of the southern Kherson region and Crimea, the destruction of some cities and the biosphere,” Yermak added.

According to the first report by Ukrainian authorities, several towns were “completely or partially flooded” after the damage caused by the Khakovka dam.

“There are about 16,000 people in the critical zone on the right bank of the Kherson region,” Prokutin said, adding that eight areas along the Dnipro River were flooded.

After the building collapsed, nearby areas of the Ukraine region flooded and evacuated people at risk.

Total 742 people Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said that they have been evacuated from the affected areas so far.

The destruction of the dam comes as both Ukraine and Russia indicate in their latest military statements what they expect to be the beginning of Ukrainian military operations. Counter attack To recover the territories occupied by the Russians.

President of the Council of Europe Charles Michael, He expressed his displeasure at Tuesday’s attack on a dam in Ukraine. Russia must be held accountable for what it calls a “war crime.”

“I am shocked by the unprecedented attack on Kagovka Dam. Destroying civilian infrastructure is clearly a war crimeWe will hold Russia and its proxies to account,” Michael said in a tweet.

The official added that he would propose to European Union (EU) countries to increase “assistance to flood-affected areas” during the bloc’s leaders’ summit scheduled for late June. Brussels.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned since the start of the war about the possibility of Russia blowing up the Khakovka hydroelectric dam.

In October last year, as the Ukrainian counter-offensive to regain control of Kherson was at its height, Zelensky called on the international community to put pressure on Russia to prevent him from doing so. Zelensky later warned If that happens the consequences for the entire area will be catastrophic.

The destruction of the Khakovka dam, located in the Russian-occupied zone in southern Ukraine, could affect the operation of the nuclear power plant. Zaporizhzhyais huge Europe Also controlled by Russian forces.

In a statement issued by the Ukrainian General Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday, EnergyHowever, he assured that the situation is currently “under control”.

“As a result of the explosion, the water level of the Khakovka dam is rapidly decreasing, which poses an additional threat to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” the agency said in a statement.

Water from a destroyed dam, as Energoatom explains “(A nuclear) plant needs to get electricity for its turbines and safety systems.” At the moment, the water level at the Zaporizhia power station is sufficient to guarantee its normal operation, the company adds.

The Ukrainian General Atomic Energy Agency continues to monitor the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant, despite its occupation by Russia since March last year.

However, the UN nuclear agency assured that there was no “immediate danger” to the Zaporizhia power plant after the dam was destroyed.

(With information from EFE, AFP and Europa Press)

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