Ukraine accuses Russia of destroying major dam and warns of widespread flooding

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station in a part of southern Ukraine that Russia controls, sending water gushing from the facility and risking massive flooding.

Officials have described the breach as an “ecological disaster”.

Ukrainian authorities have ordered hundreds of thousands of residents downriver to evacuate.

The fallout could have broad consequences: flooded homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleted water levels upstream that help cool Europe’s largest nuclear power station; and drained supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said a “global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours”.

Videos posted online began testifying to the spillover – one showed floodwaters inundating a long road, while another showed a beaver scurrying for high ground from rising waters.

Mr Zelensky called an emergency meeting to deal with the crisis, Ukrainian officials said.

The dam break adds a new complex to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month, as Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 620 miles of frontline in the east and south of Ukraine.

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[smokejaguar]

The question of who caused the dam to burst can be resolved by considering who gains from the resulting flooding. By identifying the beneficiaries, the responsible party can be determined.

[TheRatlord]

so ukraine were threatening to do this last year and now supposedly Russia did it? even though there is no benifit to them from doing so?

[johndrover]

First, the missile then Nordstream now a dam - blame Russia. Are you awake yet? #ff

[jamesmayes]

Apparently it Wass an explosion in the engine rm, aree you telling people that Russia was able to get into thee facility without anyone noticing aye oaky.

[StoutProper]

Why is every media report on this identical? It’s exactly like those kids who were killed in Bournemouth

[Durnyful]

Who benefits... when it drains it will be easier for Ukraine to forge crossings, Crimeas water source is affected, Russian defensive positions downstream have to be abandoned....

[alexmytton]

If Ukraine accuses then we know who did it lol

[MagicE]

I got stung by a wasp yesterday, must have been Russia.
Ukraine at it again.

[mhtechuk]

We all know who destroyed it don't we??

[franadams]

Ukraine has been busy bombing in the donbass, so why not shell the dam while they're busy shelling people supposed to be in their own country?

[GuacJuan]

There’s no strategic benefit to Russia doing this so I’m inclined to believe they didn’t and that Ukraine did it themselves.

[wontbelongnow]

It's war what do you expect, a clean fair fight .

[sparey]

It’s a “war”. What were they expecting? 😂 It’s one of the first things I’d have done 😂

[Patendyck]

Of course Ukraine accuses Russia, for Ukraine is the country that will not be accused of anything.

[drjeffmorris]

Another one, that’s lost their voice, have you any idea what it’s like if you’re dyslexic???

[xZero-Fox-Givenx]

And let me guess the worlds Greatest Actor is going to need yet more money from the west.

[bnnytez]

It makes no difference what you all think. End game is the elimination of at least 50% of us all.

Like dem odds?🍿😁

[ProjectO]

We all know who really destroyed it 😂😂😂😂

[jeanbuchanan]

Disgusting Ukraine said they would do this

[indigoskyfall]

Russia also blew up its own pipeline too…..😂

Death throws of NATO trying to find a way out of a war they can’t win.
Out of ammo. Out of poor Ukrainian men to feed into a meat grinder.