Russian-occupied hydro dam in Ukraine gets blown up

The Kakhovka hydropower plant (HPP) and dam in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine has been completely destroyed in the early hours of June 6 following a detonation of the facility’s engine room, state-owned Ukrhydroenergo announced on Tuesday.

According to the press office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, 80 settlements are in the flood zone but there are no reports of civilian or military casualties. So far, a total of 885 people have been evacuated from the region, CNN reports.

President Zelenskiy held an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to discuss the situation. Those attending were informed that the Russian forces occupying the plant have carried out an internal explosion of its structures. Russian authorities deny the accusations and, in turn, blame the Ukrainian military for the “terrorist attack” and shelling of the site at night.

Ukrhydroenergo said in a statement that an uncontrolled reduction in the reservoir level at the dam is an additional threat to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (NPP), which relies on the water supply to keep its turbine capacitors and safety systems running. However, the NSDC members were told that “Ukrainian personnel at the plant are keeping the situation under control and have the tools to deal with any developments.”

The hydropower company then followed up with an update saying that the explosion did not directly affect the country's energy system and the stability of the nationwide power supply. It pointed out, though, that the HPP cannot be restored.

On the night of June 6, the Russian occupation forces demolished Kakhovka HPP.https://t.co/tUSIgjSCTh#KakhovkaHPP #HPP #Ukrhydroenergo pic.twitter.com/XmbnwTvAqM

— Укргідроенерго (@Ukrhydroenergo) June 6, 2023

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!