Explained: How destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam puts more than 40,000 people at risk

The destruction of the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine has put over 42,000 people at risk of flooding. It is possibly the ‘most significant incident of damage to civilian infrastructure’ since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.

As Ukraine accused Moscow’s forces of committing “ecocide,” the UN Secretary-General warned of “grave and far-reaching consequences.” Both sides blame each other Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the collapse of the massive dam on Tuesday, which sent floodwaters across a swathe of Ukraine’s war zone and forced thousands to flee. **Also Read: Nova Kakhovka dam destruction: Is the attack a war crime?** Ukraine said Russia committed a deliberate war crime in blowing up the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam, which powered a hydroelectric station. The Kremlin blamed Ukraine, saying it was trying to distract from the launch of a major counteroffensive that Russia says is faltering. [caption id=“attachment_12704642” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station after it was partially destroyed. AFP[/caption] UN aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that the dam breach “will have grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine on both sides of the front line through the loss of homes, food, safe water and livelihoods”. “The sheer magnitude of the catastrophe will only become fully realised in the coming days,” he said. No deaths were initially reported, but US spokesperson John Kirby said the flooding had probably caused “many deaths”. Ukrainian officials estimated about 42,000 people were at risk from the flooding, which is expected to increase further. ‘Everything is submerged in water’ In Kherson city, about 60 km (37 miles) downstream from the dam, water levels rose by 3.5 metres (11-1/2 feet) on Tuesday, forcing residents to slog through water up to their knees to evacuate, carrying plastic bags full of possessions and small pets in carriers. [caption id=“attachment_12704592” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Local residents carry their personal belongings on a flooded street, after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kherson, Ukraine. Reuters[/caption] “Everything is submerged in water, all the furniture, the fridge, food, all flowers, everything is floating. I do not know what to do,” Oksana, 53, said when asked about her house. Buses, trains and private vehicles were marshalled to carry people to safety in about 80 communities threatened by flooding. In Kherson, cracks of incoming artillery sent people trying to flee running for cover. In the evening, Reuters reporters heard four incoming artillery blasts near a residential neighbourhood where civilians were evacuating.

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

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

Residents in flooded Nova Kakhovka on the Russian-controlled bank of the Dnipro told Reuters that some had decided to stay despite being ordered out. “They say they are ready to shoot without warning,” said one man, Hlib, describing encounters with Russian troops. The Kazkova Dibrova zoo on the Russian-held riverbank was completely flooded and all 300 animals were dead, a representative said via the zoo’s Facebook account. “More and more water is coming every hour. It’s very dirty,” Yevheniya, a woman in Nova Kakhovka, said by telephone. Residents blame Russia The United States said it was uncertain who was responsible, but the deputy US ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, told reporters it would not make sense for Ukraine to destroy the dam and harm its own people. **Also Read: What is the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine ‘blown up’ by Russia? How could this hurt both sides?** The Geneva Conventions ban targeting dams in war because of the danger to civilians. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address that his prosecutors had approached the International Criminal Court about the dam. Earlier, he said on Telegram that Russian forces blew up the power plant from inside.

Створена російськими терористами катастрофа на Каховській ГЕС не зупинить Україну й українців. Ми все одно звільнимо всю нашу землю. І кожен російський теракт збільшує тільки суму репарацій, які Росія виплатить за скоєні злочини, а не шанси окупантів залишитися на нашій землі.… pic.twitter.com/5MIExfxtjR

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

“Residents are sitting on the roofs of their homes waiting to be rescued … This is a Russian crime against people, nature and life itself,” Oleksiy Kuleba, a senior official on Zelenskyy’s staff, said on Telegram. The dam supplies water to a wide area of southern Ukrainian farmland, including the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, as well as cooling the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Satellite images taken on Tuesday afternoon by Maxar Technologies showed houses and other buildings submerged, many with only their roofs showing. Maxar said the images of more than 2,500 square km (965 square miles) between Nova Kakhovka and the Dniprovska Gulf, southwest of Kherson city on the Black Sea, showed numerous towns and villages flooded. Destruction can limit any Ukrainian advancement The UN nuclear watchdog said the Zaporizhzhia plant, upriver on the reservoir, should have enough water to cool its reactors for “some months” from a separate pond. [caption id=“attachment_12704602” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address that his prosecutors had approached the International Criminal Court about the dam. File image/AFP[/caption] As Kyiv prepares for its long-awaited counteroffensive, some military analysts said the flooding could benefit Russia by slowing or limiting any Ukrainian advance along that part of the front line. In a boost for Ukraine’s military, Zelenskyy said he had received “a serious, powerful” offer from countries ready to provide F-16 fighter jets. “Our partners know how many aircraft we need,” Zelenskyy was quoted as saying in a statement on his website. “I have already received an understanding of the number from some of our European partners … It is a serious, powerful offer.” Kyiv now awaited a final agreement with its allies, including “a joint agreement with the United States,” Zelenskyy said. It is not clear which of Ukraine’s allies are ready to provide it with the jets. With inputs from Reuters  Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.