Alert in Ukraine: Destruction of dam near Kherson causes major flooding in the region

Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of the attack while President Zelensky calls an emergency meeting and asks the inhabitants to leave the area.

A missile launcher on Tuesday destroyed the dam at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, 37 miles from the city of Kherson. The attack, for which Ukraine and Russia accuse each other, has caused major flooding in the region. Following the destruction of the dam, President Zelensky reported that he had called an emergency meeting to assess the damage:

In addition, Ukrainian authorities have asked the inhabitants of Kherson and its vicinity to leave the area. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry assured on Telegram that the dam had been completely destroyed and recommended evicting citizens residing "along the shore of the Dnieper and Koskeva rivers" and moving them to a safer place. In total, approximately 16,000 people living in ten villages and the city of Kherson are being evacuated.

Mapa que muestra la zona en la que se destruyó una presa cerca de Jersón el 6 de junio de 2023, provocando importantes inundaciones.
(Christian Camacho / VOZ Media)

These citizens were advised to take drinking water supplies, take their pets and all essential documentation with them, turn off all appliances and leave as soon as possible. They were also asked to assist with helping the elderly to vacate the affected places.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in danger again

The floods also endangered the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The dam that contained the water is located just below the power plant and poses a threat to the environment. This was stated by Andrei Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration:

For his part, the President of the European Council, Charles Mitchel, accused the country led by Vladimir Putin of committing "a war crime" and assured that they will hold "Russia and its proxies accountable":