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In a devastating turn of events, the Soviet-era Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River, situated in the Ukrainian city of Nova Kakhovka, was completely destroyed on Tuesday. The catastrophic collapse of the dam has not only caused significant damage to homes but also poses a grave threat to the well-being of local residents, wildlife, agricultural produce, and public infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wasted no time in attributing the dam’s demise to Russia, referring to it as “an environmental bomb of mass destruction.”
Kakhovka Dam Destroyed
The Kakhovka dam is a critical component of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, located in Ukraine’s Kherson region. Unfortunately, this region has fallen under Russian occupation as part of the ongoing war between the two nations. The Dnipro River, where the dam stood tall, has become a contentious frontline between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
Amidst a blame game, both the Russian and Ukrainian governments accuse each other of orchestrating the dam’s destruction through a deliberate explosion. US intelligence agencies have also joined the chorus, pointing fingers at Russia as the likely culprit. A senior NATO official, speaking to NBC News, asserted that Russia, rather than Ukraine, would gain the most from this calamity.
Rescue workers help residents evacuate from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
According to a report by Reuters, the Kakhovka dam, standing at an impressive height of 98 feet and stretching over a length of 2 miles, created a reservoir capable of holding 4.3 cubic miles of water, equivalent to the volume of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The release of such an enormous amount of water will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences.
The Ukrainian government has raised serious concerns, highlighting the risk faced by over 40,000 individuals residing along the Dnipro River, who are now in imminent danger of flooding. Both the Russian and Ukrainian authorities have taken the necessary step of ordering evacuations.
Kherson residents take what belongings they can during an evacuation
Chilling footage captured from Kherson showcases rooftops floating down the river and homes partially submerged, while floodwaters are predicted to reach their peak by Wednesday, according to Yahoo News. USA Today reports that Ukrainian officials have already initiated evacuation procedures, with the mayor of Nova Kakhovka, a city home to approximately 45,000 people, acknowledging that the town is currently submerged.
Expressing the urgency of the situation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba conveyed via Telegram that distressed residents are currently stranded on the rooftops of their homes, anxiously awaiting rescue operations. Water levels are expected to reach their zenith on Wednesday morning, adding to the gravity of the crisis.
SKJ