Zelenskiy claims Russia intends to hit hydro dam in southern Ukraine

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is accusing Russia of plotting to destroy the dam at the Kakhovka hydropower plant (HPP) on the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine.

“I informed the Europeans today, during the meeting of the European Council, about the next terrorist attack, which Russia is preparing for at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. According to our information, the aggregates and dam of the Kakhovka HPP were mined by Russian terrorists,” Zelenskiy stated and warned that blowing up the dam would lead to a large-scale disaster. In addition to wiping out the North Crimean Canal, destroying the dam could leave the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant without water for cooling as it is being sourced from the Kakhovka Reservoir.

Ukraine claims that Russia is attempting to destroy its energy system and, according to Zelenskiy, this has already happened to a third of the country’s power network.

“Attacks by Russian cruise missiles and Iranian combat drones have destroyed more than a third of our energy infrastructure. Because of this, unfortunately we are no longer able to export electricity to help you maintain stability,” Zelenskiy told the European Council on Thursday.

The Kakhovka HPP is located about 5 km from the city of Nova Kakhovka in the region of Kherson. Its current capacity amounts to 334.8 MW, according to information available on the website of state-owned Ukrhydroenergo, which operates the plant.

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