In a shocking development, Ukraine reports that Russian forces have targeted and bombed residential buildings in the city of Kherson, coinciding tragically with the evacuation of residents due to widespread flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.
According to preliminary reports, the ruthless bombardment has resulted in at least three injuries and one confirmed fatality.
The Kakhovka dam, located in territory controlled by Russia, was obliterated in what Ukraine officials call a deliberate act of terrorism orchestrated by Moscow. Consequently, the region is grappling with catastrophic flooding, a crisis compounded by relentless attacks by Russian forces.
According to reports, Vladimir Putin's forces appear to have targeted evacuation points. One such moment was when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited them earlier in the day. The onslaught forced civilians, journalists, and rescuers to seek cover, temporarily halting rescue operations.
"The shelling began precisely during the evacuation of citizens whose homes were flooded," Ukraine's Interior Ministry claimed in an official statement. It further criticized Russia for neglecting the well-being of those in the territories it occupies in the Kherson region. Ukraine's stern assertion that Moscow is preventing them from safeguarding "the most valuable - human lives," paints a dire picture of the ongoing situation.
Videos circulating online show petrified civilians fleeing their flood-surrounded homes as they come under attack. Other footage reveals smoke billowing from inundated towns near what seems to be evacuation vessels. Flames engulfing buildings have also been captured, with fire and rescue crews reportedly unable to access the bombed sites due to the severe flooding.
In footage shared by Sky's Alex Crawford, rescuers and civilians are seen in a state of panic as the distant rumbling of artillery fire grows louder. Military spokesman Sergiy Sergeyev stated earlier today, "There are some civilians wounded and dead as a result of Russian shelling in the centre of Kherson, the number is being clarified."
Meanwhile, Moscow criticizes Kyiv for alleged attacks on rescue workers operating in Russian-held territory on the east bank of the Dnieper River. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out that rescue efforts are being hampered by ongoing Ukrainian shelling.
Yesterday, Kyiv also accused Moscow of obstructing the evacuation process with relentless shelling. "Evacuation continues. Under fire!" said President Zelensky. "Russian artillery continues to fire, no matter what. Savages." He commended the valiant efforts of the military and special services working to rescue as many people as possible despite the hostile circumstances.
Zelensky's comments came after escape routes from the flooded city were bombarded soon after he visited an evacuation point. The widespread devastation caused by the dam breach was mirrored in the somber expression of President Zelensky as he toured the region today. Thousands continue to flee their homes as Europe faces its worst environmental catastrophe since the Chornobyl disaster.
According to Kyiv, nearly 20,000 individuals have been saved from the deluge. However, approximately 40,000 more are evacuated as settlements across the region transform into vast rivers.
In a broadcast on Russian state TV, the Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka confirmed the death of five individuals. Mayor Vladimir Leontyev revealed that the victims were among seven locals reported missing after the dam collapse.
Aerial photographs reveal homes submerged by floodwaters, with residents forced to abandon their properties, possessions, and pets. Rescue teams employ boats and amphibious vehicles to evacuate people from the inundated areas.
On her harrowing evacuation, Tetiana Omelchenko, 65, said she had to wait two days before being rescued from her apartment block. Lora Musiyan, an employee at Kherson's meteorological agency, waded into the floodwaters to measure the current level, which she reports is 5.33 meters above normal. "That's the height of two storeys - you can only survive this on a roof," she noted.
As per the Russian state-owned news agency Tass, emergency services in the occupied region confirm that nearly 14,000 homes have been inundated, and close to 4,300 people have been evacuated. Medical services have attended to 23 individuals, 21 of whom have been hospitalized.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Zelensky convened a meeting with advisors to strategize the way forward. "Many important issues were discussed. The operational situation in the region as a result of the disaster, evacuation of the population from potential flood zones, elimination of the emergency caused by the dam explosion, organization of life support for the flooded areas," he posted on his Telegram channel. Zelensky also highlighted the discussions about restoring the region's ecosystem and assessing the operational military situation in the area affected by the man-made disaster.
The destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River, which serves as a border between Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine, threatens to displace tens of thousands of people. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrij Melnyk likened the flooding to the 1986 explosion at the Chornobyl nuclear plant, suggesting it was "the worst environmental disaster in Europe since the Chernobyl disaster. Only this time Moscow deliberately used this weapon of mass destruction against the Ukrainians."
The cause of the explosions that obliterated the dam remains unclear. However, Ukrainian authorities had warned last year of potential danger, alleging that retreating Russian forces had mined the dam. Ukraine's state hydroelectric company reported that an explosion in the engine room had destroyed the Kakhovka plant, implying the attack was internal rather than external.
Ukrainian authorities have evacuated 17,000 people, and the floodwaters have submerged 24 villages. "Over 40,000 people are in danger of being flooded," warned Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, adding that 25,000 more people need to be evacuated from the Russian-occupied side of the Dnieper.
"Evacuation will continue tomorrow and in the coming days - by bus and train," stated Presidential Advisor Oleksiy Kuleba on Tuesday.
Terrifying footage reveals houses being swept away and entire towns subsumed by the deluge. Streets and fields near the dam have been transformed into virtual lakes. A Russia-installed local mayor cautioned that water levels would continue to rise for another 72 hours and anticipated 40ft high floods in certain places.
Last October, Zelensky had accused Russia of planting mines at the dam, warning that its destruction would instigate a fresh wave of refugees into Europe. The present devastation demonstrates the grim reality of his prediction, confirming the relentless adversity Ukrainians currently face.
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