Russia obstructed rescue operations in Kherson Oblast after the Kakhovka dam destruction, leading to civilian casualties.
Key facts
- •Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and the adjacent dam on June 6, 2023.
- •The floods killed over 30 people in Ukrainian-held territories and dozens to hundreds more in Russian-occupied areas.
- •Over 10 volunteers were injured as a result of Russian attacks during rescue operations on the Ukrainian-controlled territory.
- •Five of the seven volunteers from the western bank interviewed by Truth Hounds said they had witnessed or come under fire during rescue operations.
- •Russian forces confiscated civilian boats for military use and blocked residents from leaving on the Russian-occupied eastern bank.
- •Evacuations on the Russian-occupied eastern bank were selective, with priority given to people holding Russian passports.
Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and the adjacent dam in Kherson Oblast on June 6, 2023, causing a humanitarian and environmental disaster. The floods killed over 30 people in Ukrainian-held territories and dozens to hundreds more in Russian-occupied areas. Russia hindered rescue operations, making it harder to evacuate civilians and deliver aid.
Evacuation efforts
Volunteers from the Red Cross, local NGOs, and residents using private boats began evacuating people within hours of the dam's collapse on the Ukrainian-controlled western bank of the Dnipro River. However, Russian soldiers shelled evacuation points and rescue boats, injuring over 10 volunteers. A mortar attack on an evacuation point in Kherson injured nine people, including two rescuers and a police officer.
Russian-occupied territory
The situation on the Russian-occupied eastern bank in Kherson Oblast was more difficult. Russian forces confiscated civilian boats for military use and blocked residents from leaving. Witnesses reported that evacuations were selective, with priority given to people holding Russian passports, and some demanded payment. Communication disruptions further complicated evacuation efforts.
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Kyiv Independent.
