On Tuesday, a dam along the Dnipro river collapsed putting around 42,000 people, in the areas controlled by Russia and Ukraine, under high risk from flooding.
Ukraine and Russia are holding each other responsible for the disruption of the large dam, causing floodwaters to flow into the war-prone zone while compelling thousands to displace.
Ukraine blames Russia for committing a war crime by destroying the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam that provided energy to a hydroelectric station. While the Kremlin claims Ukraine is responsible for it as its motive was to distract from the execution of a major counterattack which Russia says is faltering.
Though no deaths were reported at first, but “many deaths” were caused by the flooding, US spokesman John Kirby said. While Ukrainian officials confirmed about 42,000 people were vulnerable from the floodwaters, this estimation is said to spike on Wednesday.
As of Tuesday, water levels have risen by 3.5 meters (11-1/2 feet) in the city of Kherson, located 60 kms downstream from the dam. This has caused the local people to evacuate through the knee-deep waters with their possessions packed in plastic bags and small pets in carriers.
Buses, trains and private vehicles were arranged to take those displaced from the impact of the flooding to a safe location in about 80 communities prone to be flooded.
On Tuesday, people in Kherson who were trying to evacuate were finding a place to cover from the arms. In the evening, reporters of the British news agency, Reuters, reported an explosion in the neighbourhood where locals were evacuating by four incoming artillery.
Reuters was informed by the residents of the underwater Russian controlled area on the bank of the Dnipro, Nova Kakhovka, that they have decided to remain where they are irrespective of the orders to evacuate.
On the Russian-controlled side of the riverbank, all 300 animals died as the Kazkova Dibrova zoo was completely under the floodwaters, said a representative citing from the zoo’s Facebook profile.
Robert Wood, US Ambassador to the UN, said to the reporters that it makes no sense for Ukraine to disrupt the dam and cause harm to its people, while Washington said it’s not clear about who’s responsible for the damage.
Disrupting dams in the midst of war has been prohibited at the Geneva Conventions, as it puts civilians at risk.
In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his lawyers had reached out to the International Criminal Court regarding the dam. Earlier on Telegram, he held Russia responsible for blowing up the power plant on the inside.
Water from the dam is used in the wide southern Ukrainian farmland, including the Russian-held Crimea peninsula, and is also used for cooling Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on the Russian-occupied area.
Some military analysts stated that the flooding in Russia is in its advantage as it would either decelerate or restrict the Ukrainian forces to advance on the front line.
UN Secretary General blames Russian invasion for dam destruction
The partial collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, according to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is “another devastating consequence” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he added.
At the UN’s headquarters in New York, Guterres told reporters, “Today’s tragedy is yet another example of the horrific price of war on people. The floodgates of suffering have been overflowing for more than a year. That must stop.”
The UN “has no access to independent information on the circumstances that led to the destruction” of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam, according to Guterres.
“But one thing is clear. This is another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he continued.
Attacks on civilians and vital civilian infrastructure “must stop,” said Guterres, who has criticized Moscow for breaking the UN charter since the beginning of Russia’s invasion.
