During a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, characterized the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant as a barbarous act that triggered a wide-ranging environmental and humanitarian catastrophe. The Kremlin press service reported his remarks, framing the incident as a calculated move with grave consequences for nearby communities and ecosystems. [Citation: Kremlin press service]
The press release attributed to Russian officials asserts that Ukrainian authorities are culpable for employing what it described as terror tactics at the urging of Western interlocutors, thereby heightening tensions and paving the way for new war crimes allegations. The account emphasizes a narrative of escalation tied to Western guidance, aiming to justify a hardened stance in the ongoing conflict. [Citation: Kremlin press service]
The publication goes on to reiterate that the destruction exemplifies a barbaric act, citing the Kakhovskaya dam as a focal point of the dispute and a symbol of deliberate interference in regional stability. [Citation: Kremlin press service]
In the Kherson region, late on June 6, the upper section of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station near Novaya Kakhovka was destroyed. The disaster triggered flooding across dozens of settlements, including Kherson and New Kakhovka, with several areas reported to be entirely submerged. Local authorities estimated that tens of thousands of residents found themselves displaced or stranded in the affected zone. [Citation: Kherson regional administration and disaster response agencies]
The exchange over accountability continues as both Moscow and Kyiv trade blame for the dam’s breach. An alternative theory circulating in some circles attributes the catastrophe to preexisting structural damage. Ukrhidroenergo, the utility operator, issued a statement declaring the plant irreparably destroyed and beyond the possibility of restoration. [Citation: Ukrhidroenergo official release]