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:
Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. It’s only… pic.twitter.com/ErBog1gRhH
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023
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.
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:
The insane goal of stopping the Defense Forces' advance and avoiding defeat and disgrace drives Kremlin criminals. They are willing to do anything to raise the stakes in this war.
Today's Russia is a global threat.
This can be changed by force only.— Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) June 6, 2023
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":
Shocked by the unprecedented attack of the Nova Kakhovka dam.
The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime - and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 6, 2023