• On June 6, the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine was destroyed by an explosion.
• Ukraine and Russia are both blaming each other for the incident.
• The destruction of the dam threatens a humanitarian crisis in the region.
Kakhovka Dam Destruction
On the early morning of June 6, the Russian-controlled Kharkiv region of southern Ukraine witnessed the explosion of the Kakhovka Dam, a Soviet-era structure. The dam’s destruction resulted in a substantial release of water, affecting both the dam and the hydroelectric power plant. Questions as to who blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant now persist. Both Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the calamity.
Dam Details
The Kakhovka Dam, spanning Ukraine’s Dnieper River along the front line, has a height of 30m and a length of 3.2km. Constructed in 1956 as a Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant component, it holds a massive volume of water utilized for supplying the Crimean peninsula and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The destruction of this power plant threatens a humanitarian crisis in nearby regions.
Ukraine Blames Russia
According to Ukraine’s military and civilian authorities, Russian forces were responsible for destroying this dam. “The Russian army has carried out another terrorist attack,” said Oleksandr Prokudin, head of Military Administration in Kherson province. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also blamed Russia for destroying this dam calling them “the most dangerous terrorist in the world”. Zelensky further called on Western powers to help Kyiv defeat Russia before describing it as “the largest man-made environmental disaster” in Europe over decades.
Russia Denies Allegations
Russia denies any involvement with regards to such allegations from Ukraine claiming that Ukrainian forces were behind this incident instead with its own accusations against Kyiv government labeling them as “terrorists”. In response to these accusations from Kiev government which is currently backed by western powers including NATO’s military support against Moscow’s aggression towards Donbass region since 2014 which is supported by its own military presence near Crimea border area where such alleged incident took place recently .
Conclusion
The responsibility behind this act remains unknown while both countries continue trading blames between themselves at present moment amidst rising tensions within Eastern Europe due to ongoing conflict between them since 2014 despite signing ceasefire Minsk Protocol II Agreement 5 years ago aimed at resolving such issues without further military escalations among two nations involved within particular situation regarding mentioned issue finally resulting into current situation accordingly respectively .