Houses with water up to the roofs, swans swimming in the square – this is what flooded cities and villages look like
Many photos and videos have been posted on social media from a number of the settlements which are now flooded as a result of the Russians blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP).
Source: Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels; Russian mass media; Suspilne; Ihor Syrot, Head of Ukrhydroenergo, Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, and Ihor Klymenko, Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, on the national 24-hour newscast
Details: The Kakhovka HPP was blown up from the inside by the occupiers at around 02:30 on 6 June.
Зруйнована окупантами Каховська ГЕС. Відео російського пропагандистського видання ТАСС pic.twitter.com/kM5Y4nzdqa
— Українська правда ✌ (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023
As a result of the explosion, the dam and the turbine hall of the HPP were completely destroyed.
The videos show that the water is moving in a wide stream and very fast.
Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipro Oblast Military Administration, reported that the water level in the reservoir is dropping rapidly, by almost 15 centimetres every hour.
Будинок пливе Дніпром. Відео з російських пабліків у Telegram pic.twitter.com/txTuZN2P1t
— Українська правда ✌ (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023
More than 80 settlements are in the flood zone, and approximately 16,000 residents need to be evacuated.
The lawful mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Volodymyr Kovalenko, informed UP this morning that the city had begun to flood immediately after the dam was destroyed.
Затоплений Палац культури у Новій Каховці. Відео з Telegram-каналу Astra pic.twitter.com/QQhOOXMzOQ
— Українська правда ✌ (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023
At the same time, the occupying so-called "head" of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontiev, initially told Russian propagandists that the news that the hydroelectric power plant had been blown up was "nonsense", saying that "everything is quiet and calm in the city". Later, the collaborator was forced to admit that the city was flooding.
Лебеді плавають на затопленій площі перед Палацом культури у Новій Каховці. Відео з Telegram-каналу Astra pic.twitter.com/TjX2p2X7cc
— Українська правда ✌ (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023
As of 07:30, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, the following settlements were completely or partially flooded: Tiahynka, Lvove and Odradokamianka in the Beryslav district, as well as Ivanivka, Mykilske, Tokarivka, Poniativka, Bilozerka and the Ostriv micro-district in the city of Kherson in the Kherson district.
As of 12:30, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, 24 settlements have been flooded.
Подружжя евакуюється зі свого мікрорайону Корабел у Херсоні. Місто уже частково затопило. Відео Суспільного pic.twitter.com/htPJAuBLe9
— Українська правда ✌ (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023
The water keeps coming. It is expected that water will be flowing from the Kakhovka reservoir for four days.
Херсонська набережна станом на 12:00, затоплено понад 10 метрів суші. Відео Суспільного pic.twitter.com/0ieizXfiqP
— Українська правда ✌ (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023
Photos and videos from flooded areas are being posted on social media.
Затоплений район Корабел у Херсоні. Будинки у воді до самих дахів. Відео з російських пабліків у Telegram pic.twitter.com/7km7AtoIr1
— Українська правда ✌ (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023
In some places, the water has reached window level in private houses, and in some places the houses are flooded up to the roof.
Подекуди приватні будинки у Херсоні до даху затягнуло мулом. Відео з російських пабліків у Telegram pic.twitter.com/1Jt9zS2i6p
— Українська правда ✌ (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023
Ihor Syrota, head of Ukrhydroenergo, said that the Crimean Canal, and therefore the whole of temporarily occupied Crimea, would be left without water. He added that after the liberation of Kherson Oblast and Crimea, Ukraine will have to tackle this issue and "resolve it very quickly".
Read also: Flooded South: the consequences of blowing up the Kakhovka dam (in brief)
Background:
- On the morning of 6 June, Ukraine’s Operational Command Pivden (South) reported that the Russian occupation forces had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), with the Kherson Oblast Military Administration confirming this information. The dam and turbine hall of the hydroelectric power station were completely destroyed. There is a fast inflow of water. The hydroelectric power station is beyond repair.
- Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, said the evacuation of the local population from dangerous areas has begun.
- The power supply has been cut off in the Korabel district of the city of Kherson due to the flooding that occurred after the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station was blown up by the Russians.
- As of 07:30 on 6 June, eight settlements and one microdistrict in the city of Kherson have been completely or partially flooded due to the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station being blown up by the Russian invaders.
- President Zelenskyy called an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defence Council to address the blowing up of the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.
- The Armed Forces of Ukraine say that the Russians blowing up the Kakhovka power plant will not prevent the defence forces from continuing to liberate the occupied territories.
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