Russia is preparing to blow up a dam at a hydroelectric plant in southern Ukraine that would lead to a “large-scale disaster”, accused Ukraine President Zelensky, adding that the Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper river had been mined by Russian forces.
The dam is under Russian occupation, but Ukrainian forces are closing in. Russia has already accused Ukraine of firing missiles at the Kakhovka dam.
Zelenskiy said Russian forces had planted explosives inside the huge Nova Kakhovka dam, which holds back an enormous reservoir that dominates much of southern Ukraine, and were planning to blow it up to cover their retreat.
The dam also provides Russia with one of the few remaining routes across the Dnieper river in the partially occupied Kherson region.