Ukrainian forces report on aftermath of Russian attack on Pechenihy Reservoir dam
It has emerged that the latest Russian strikes did not hit the dam of the Pechenihy Reservoir in Kharkiv Oblast: four bombs struck the ground near the hydraulic structures, and two more hit the water.
Source: 16th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Details: This marks another attempted attack on the Pechenihy Reservoir dam, during which the Russians used six guided aerial bombs.
"The timing of the attack demonstrates a particular cynicism on the part of the invaders," the Corps said. "The enemy is attempting to exploit the moment when, due to the spring flood, the reservoir holds its maximum volume of water."
If the dam were destroyed during the current "high water" period, it would have caused catastrophic consequences for hromadas downstream, leading to large-scale flooding and an environmental disaster. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]
The 16th Army Corps notes that Russian forces have turned to an information and psychological campaign after failing to achieve success on the ground.
"Fake reports about damage to the dam and a supposed emergency discharge of water have begun to spread on sham Kharkiv-related social media pages controlled by the Russian Federation," the military says.
In reality, the dam has not been damaged, and water discharge is being carried out in a planned and controlled manner, the 16th Army Corps stressed.
Drawing on experience from previous insidious attacks, plans for a rapid response to any emergency situations have been developed in advance, the military added.
Background:
- The Russians dropped six guided aerial bombs on a dam in Kharkiv Oblast, which is a critical infrastructure facility located at one of the region's largest reservoirs.
- Earlier, the Russians destroyed a dam on the Siverskyi Donets River and water reserves in storage facilities were estimated to last only about two weeks, prompting the introduction of water supply schedules in Donetsk Oblast.
- A Russian attack on infrastructure near the Dnister Hydroelectric Power Plant in Chernivtsi Oblast caused a leak of technical oils into the Dnister River, with pollution spreading into Moldova.
- Since early October 2025, Russian forces have deliberately attacked 11 Ukrainian hydroelectric power plants and 45 major combined heat and power plants
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