Russian authorities in the Kherson region reported the partial destruction of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, located along the Dnieper upstream from Kherson. Ukrainian authorities blamed the incident on Russia and announced the evacuation of residents of the Right Bank region. The essence of the situation at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station is in the Russian media material.
What happened
On the morning of June 6, a video appeared on social networks, in which water flows through the destroyed part of the upper dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. Telegram channels including Base And Shot referring to Ukrainian audiences and Russian military correspondents, reported severe damage to the station.
Mayor of Nova Kakhovka Vladimir Leontiev initially called information about the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station by “nonsense” and claimed that “everywhere in the city everything is quiet and calm.” However, soon he informed that the upper part of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station was destroyed as a result of shelling. According to the official, on the night of June 6, “many strikes were carried out”, which led to the destruction of the station’s valves.
“As a result, water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to flow uncontrollably downstream <...> The water that was above the surface structures is going downstream,” Leontiev said, calling the incident “the most serious act of terrorism.”
According to Leontiev, the dam-reservoir was not destroyed. By words Source TASS in the emergency services, 11 out of 28 bays of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station have been destroyed, and a cascade destruction of the power station is underway. 80 settlements can fall into the flood zone, the source adds. The collapse of the spans continues, declared agency in emergency services.
Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station is the sixth (lower and last) stage of the Dnieper cascade of hydroelectric power stations, it was commissioned in the 1950s. The station is located 5 km from the city of Novaya Kakhovka (ZNPP is located upstream of the Dnieper, on the banks of the Kakhovka reservoir). The maximum capacity of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station is 21,400 cubic meters. m per second.
The water level after the destruction of the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station rose by 5 meters downstream, reported Leontiev. By data local emergency services, the water in Nova Kakhovka continues to rise up to ten meters. The governor of the territory of the Kherson region controlled by Ukraine, Alexander Prokudin, said that the water level after the partial destruction of the station will reach a critical level in five hours.
Source TASS in power structures informed that the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power plant collapsed because it could not withstand the damage inflicted on it earlier as a result of bombardments.
“It was quiet at night. There were no flights. The dam could not support it, a support collapsed and the flooding started,” the source said.
Emergency Services Representative informed TASS that the attack on the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, which resulted in the destruction of the valves and the discharge of water downstream, was allegedly carried out from the Alder multiple rocket launcher system. In the administration of New Kakhovka claim that as a result of the bombardment, the structures of the station were partially destroyed, as a result of which three spans collapsed under the pressure of the water.
The parties accuse each other
Russian pro-military bloggers claim that the Ukrainian army was involved in the destruction of the station.
“According to preliminary information, Ukrainian formations blew up the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station in the Kherson region”, writing telegram channel “Rybar”.
In the Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “South” declared that the hydroelectric plant was “mined” by Russian troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also blamed the Russian military for the partial destruction of the station.
“They must be expelled from all corners of Ukrainian territory. Not a single meter should be left for them <…> All services are working. I convened the National Security and Defense Council, ”said the head of state in his telegram channel.
The Kiev-controlled Kherson regional administration accused Russia of “another terrorist attack, this time with probable negative man-made consequences”.
The Kremlin and the Russian Defense Ministry have not yet commented on the situation at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station.
Evacuation
The Russian administration of the Kherson region said that the situation in the coastal areas of the Dnieper is under control and the water level in the river is controlled.
“If the situation worsens, we ask all residents of coastal settlements to be ready to be evacuated,” he added. warned authorities.
14 settlements with a population of 22,000 people fall into the possible flood zone of the Dnieper informed head of the Russian government of the Kherson region Andrei Alekseenko. He clarified that the Dnieper, Korsunka, Krynki, Cossack camps, Peschanovka, Alyoshki, Solonetsy, Kardashinka, Kokhany, Malaya Kardashinka, Naked Pristan, Belogrudove, Staraya Zburyevka, Zabarino and the Dnieper islands fall into the flood zone.
Alekseenko also said that three special rescue teams from EMERCOM of Russia were sent to Novaya Kakhovka, Holaya Pristan and Alyoshki. The operational headquarters for the situation at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station was headed by the acting governor of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, the official added.
At the same time, Ukrainian authorities announced the evacuation of residents of the Kherson region on the right bank of the Dnieper, which remains under the control of Kiev, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported.
“The units of the national police and the state emergency service of the Kherson region were alerted to alert and evacuate the civilian population from potentially flood-prone areas on the right bank of the Dnieper, namely: the villages of Nikolaevka , Olgovka, Levo, Tyaginka , Ponyatovka, Ivanovka, Tokarevka, Ponyatovka, Pridneprovskoe, Sadovoe and partly the city of Kherson – Korabel Island,” the agency said in a telegram channel.
Ukrainian authorities recommend that everyone in the potential flood zone turn off all electrical appliances, take essential documents and items, take care of loved ones and pets, and follow instructions. lifeguards and the police.
Also, for the evacuation of the inhabitants of the right bank of Kherson, controlled by Kiev, trains were formed towards Nikolaev, declared the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on his telegraph channel. According to him, due to the destruction of the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, there is a threat of flooding of 80 settlements.
Consequences
In the Kiev-controlled part of Kherson, the power supply was cut off in the Korabel microdistrict, which began to flood after the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. In a few hours, the gas supply there will be cut off, said Roman Mrochko, chairman of the Kherson city military administration.
The water reached the administrative building of the Novokahovsky urban district and continues to rise, transmits Correspondent of RIA Novosti.
There are conflicting reports from the authorities regarding the impact of the situation at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station on Crimea’s water supply. Mayor of Nova Kakhovka admitted that due to a dam failure, there could be problems with the water supply to the peninsula. At the same time, the town hall reported that there is no threat of dehydration of the North Crimean Canal after the breakthrough of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station.
Damage to the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station will not affect Sevastopol’s water supply in any way, Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev assured. “The city uses its own reservoir, the water reserves are at their maximum and there are also emergency water supply sources”, — writing he is in his telegram channel.
Possible consequences for the operation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are also discussed. The IAEA says it is aware of the damage caused to the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station.
“IAEA experts from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are closely monitoring the situation, there is no direct threat to the nuclear safety of the plant,” the agency said in a tweet.
Ukrainian “Energoatom” reported that the situation at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station may have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, but now the situation is under control. “Water from the Kakhovka reservoir is needed by the plant to supply the turbine condensers and the ZNPP safety systems. From now on, the station’s cooling basin is full: from 8:00 am, the water level is 16.6 meters, which is sufficient for the needs of the station.
Rosatom reported that there is no threat to the security of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant now, transmits RBC.
Repair of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station is now impossible, it will have to be reconstructed, suggested Vladimir Leontiev, head of the administration of Novaya Kakhovka. The Ukrainian hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenergo also considers it impossible to restore the plant after the destruction.
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