In Photos: Dam Breach in Russian-Controlled Ukraine Floods Surrounding Areas
Kyiv and Moscow on Tuesday accused each other of destroying a major dam on the Dnipro River, which separates Russian and Ukrainian-controlled areas of the southern Kherson region.
Videos shared on social media showed a huge surge of water cascading over submerged sections of the Kakhovka dam. The reservoir it contains holds an estimated 18 cubic kilometers of water, around the same volume as the Great Salt Lake in the state of Utah.
The dam breach has led to catastrophic flooding, prompting evacuations of civilians from areas downstream.
Ukraine claims Moscow blew up the Russian-controlled dam and called it a deliberate war crime. In turn, the Kremlin blamed Ukrainian forces for the dam's destruction after allegedly suffering early losses in their counteroffensive launched in the days before.
Here are scenes from the flooded areas:
Videos shared on social media showed a huge surge of water cascading over submerged sections of the Kakhovka dam. The reservoir it contains holds an estimated 18 cubic kilometers of water, around the same volume as the Great Salt Lake in the state of Utah.
The dam breach has led to catastrophic flooding, prompting evacuations of civilians from areas downstream.
Ukraine claims Moscow blew up the Russian-controlled dam and called it a deliberate war crime. In turn, the Kremlin blamed Ukrainian forces for the dam's destruction after allegedly suffering early losses in their counteroffensive launched in the days before.
Here are scenes from the flooded areas:
Floodwater seen reaching the center of Russian-controlled Nova Kakhovka, situated on the east bank of Ukraine's Dnipro River.
Emergency services of the Kherson region
The façade of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant in Nova Kakhovka.
Alexei Konovalov / TASS
An aerial view of the flooding.
Emergency services of the Kherson region
The Russian-installed head of Nova Kakhovka called the dam breach a "terrorist act" and blamed Ukraine.
Video grab
White swans float past a cultural center in Nova Kakhovka.
The Nova Kakhovka zoo, which is home to some 260 zoo animals, was one of the first areas to flood following the dam breach.
The Nova Kakhovka zoo, which is home to some 260 zoo animals, was one of the first areas to flood following the dam breach.
Video grab
A flooded sports stadium.
Video grab
Flooding in an industrial area located in Ukraine's Kherson region.
Social Media
Floodwaters rise up to a gate.
t.me/roman_mrochko
View of the flooding from inside a boat.
t.me/roman_mrochko
Flooded roads in a rural residential area.
t.me/roman_mrochko
Partially flooded streets in the Kherson region.
t.me/roman_mrochko
Following the breach, sections of the Nova Khakovka dam were submerged under water.
Video grab
A satellite image of the dam breach.
Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies / AFP
