Ecocide: Russians Detonate Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station
In the early hours of today, Russian occupying forces in Ukraine executed a devastating explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, located a few kilometres from the temporarily occupied Ukrainian city of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region. As a result of the dam's destruction, the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir began to drop rapidly, posing a risk of flooding.
This was reported by the President of Ukraine on his social media accounts.
"All services are operational. I have summoned the National Security and Defense Council. Please share only official and verified information," stated Volodymyr Zelensky.
The destruction of the Kakhovka HPS by Russians could deprive the residents of Kherson region and occupied Crimea of drinking water, as well as pose a threat to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This is another war crime committed by Russian terrorists.
"By destroying the Kakhovka HPS dam, Russian terrorists are only confirming to the world that they need to be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. No meter should be left to them because every meter they use for terror. Only Ukraine's victory will restore safety. And this victory will come. Neither by water, nor by missiles, nor by anything else will terrorists be able to stop Ukraine," Zelensky added.
IAEA and Energoatom also responded to this terrorist act by Russians.
The detonation of the Kakhovka HPS could have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, currently occupied by Russian forces. The situation is currently under control, according to Energoatom's Telegram post.
"IAEA is aware of reports about damage to the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine; IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhia NPP are closely monitoring the situation; there is no immediate nuclear safety risk at the plant," stated the agency in a Twitter post.
On the morning of June 6, the 'South' Operational Command confirmed the explosion at the Kakhovka HPS by russian forces. Russian occupiers claim that the upper part of the Kakhovka HPS was allegedly destroyed due to shelling by Ukrainian forces, and the reservoir dam is not destroyed.
Ukrainian authorities have announced evacuations from dangerous areas in the Kherson region. The Kherson Regional State Administration named potential flood zones on the right bank of the Dnipro River. These include the villages of Mykolaivka, Olhivka, Liovo, Tyahinka, Ponyativka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka, Ponyativka, Prydniprovske, Sadove and parts of the city of Kherson - the Korabel Island."
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has labelled Russia's detonation of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station as a horrific war crime and, possibly, the most significant technogenic disaster in Europe over the past decade.
According to a UN report, human-induced environmental catastrophes have escalated in scale and consequences over the last ten years.