The Destruction Of The Kakhovka Dam In Kherson

Neither Russia or Ukraine have admitted responsibility but many consider Russia to be behind the war crime.

The main news is that on 6 June 2023, the Kakhovka dam in occupied Kherson was partially destroyed leading to flooding. This is a war crime under the Geneva Convention as dams are considered essential to provide water and facilities for citizens.

More than 30 settlements have been affected, houses have collapsed and floated down the Dnipro river, people have died, many have been evacuated but have lost everything, a zoo has been lost and all the animals perished in the flooding, and in 48 hours the reservoir will have disappeared and will not longer exist as it enters the Black Sea. People from Ukrainian controlled areas have been affected as well as those in Russian occupied Kherson. Officials say 40,000 people need to be evacuated.

The cause of the explosion appears to have been from inside the engine room, and as it is controlled by Russia, it seems they are the aggressors here. Back in October 2022, Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian intelligence had uncovered a plot to destroy the Kakhovka dam, and pleaded with the international alliances to act to prevent a catastrophic tragedy. That act has now been carried out by the Russians as many suspect, for how would Ukraine benefit?

The original plan was to blow up the dam as the Russians retreated from Kherson which the Ukrainian troops were liberating. This was to create a false flag and to also cover their tracks so that the Ukrainian army could not follow them. The damage is heartbreaking with people losing their homes and their lives turned upside down, towns and villages destroyed, and the dam that serves so many areas leave them without water and power. There are the animals to think of who have drowned, and also the plant life that has been destroyed with the floods. A new hydroelectric power plant will have to be build, and there are fears that it will leave Crimea without an adequate water supply and affect the Zaporizhzia nuclear power plant too as it requires a water supply for cooling.

While the world leaders hold talks on F-16s and tanks, and NATO membership, Ukrainians are dying and the cost of rebuilding Ukraine just went up another few billion dollars overnight.

All I can say is that we should say prayers for those fighting in Bakhmut, and the thousands of people who have been affected by the destruction of the dam and hydroelectric power station. Lives are being sacrificed as the war enters another phase while the international alliances continue to discuss their peace plans.

Day 467 (5 June)

• Russia claims that the militants that have been attacking Belgorod have been using NATO supplied weapons, a claim that Ukraine denies. This has led to the Belgian government asking Ukraine for clarification as to whether weapons they have supplied to Ukraine have been used in Russia but the para military groups.

• Germany has ruled out providing Taurus long range missiles to Ukraine for now.

• Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna visits Kyiv for 2 days (5-6 June) to assist with a peace keeping mission as requested by Pope Francis.

  

• The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russian legion requested the governor of Belgorod (Vyacheslav Gladkov) to see them as they had captured a number of Russian soldiers. Gladkov did not attend the meeting and the soldiers have been handed over to the Ukrainians as POW. Russia has ‘lost’ 200km along the Belgorod border to the insurgents.

• Reports claim that there is a contract showing Iran selling ammunition to Russia for over $1 million. Iran denies selling ammunition to Russia, but if the contract is genuine then it could lead to sanctions against Iran from the allied countries, where several have already imposed some sanctions.

• In Bakhmut, Ukraine managed to regain two settlements as the Ukrainian continue to fight in Bakhmut.

• Zelenskyy has stated that Russia has been bypassing sanctions by using third party intermediaries. Sanctions have taken too long, and countries like Belarus have been aiding Russia to circumvent the sanctions in place.

Day 468 (6 June)

• The Nova Kakhovka dam was damaged in an explosion today at about 2.30 am local time (confirmed by the power station). The media outlets are careful not to blame Russia as there is no evidence that they carried out the attack, however, it seems to be more likely given that Russia is not carrying out an investigation on the incident. The dam is in occupied territory, but affects Ukrainians in Ukrainian held land and also Russian occupied land.

  

• Russia has blamed Ukraine and said it was damaged through shelling, but has provided no evidence. Later, new reported that the explosion came from the engine room of the hydroelectric power plant that is controlled by Russia.

• The International Court of Justice in The Hague is reviewing the lawsuit initiated by Ukraine that they state breaches two UN Conventions —terrorism and discrimination on ethnic grounds. The case will focus on the annexation of Crimea and the self-proclaimed republics in Luhansk and Donetsk.

• Ukraine has issued a statement confirming that they’re not responsible for the explosion of the Kherson dam.

• The Kazkova Dibrova zoo was completely flooded and no animals survived.

• Water levels rose to 11 metres (36 feet) as houses were submerged and others swept away.

• There are also fears of pollution as (ecocide) as 150 tonnes of engine oil spilled into the Dnipro river.

Day 469 (7 June)

• Ukhydroenerho confirmed that an explosion in the Kakhovka lower engine room was responsible for the destruction of the dam. The power plant cannot be repaired and a new one at a cost of $1 billion will take place and take 5 years.

• World leaders condemn the attack, where some criticise Russia and others are more wary of pointing the finger at Russia for fear of reprisals. Russia had announced it would no longer investigate incidents that were ‘military’ last week, therefore, they will not be investigating this incident.

• Reports claim that the Russian Federation 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade were ordered to blow up the dam, which is a war crime and that has created a humanitarian crisis.

• Finland is deporting 9 Russians who worked in the embassy, who carried out tasks for the Russian FSB. They had violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.