Ukraine says it has proof that Russia blew up Kakhovka dam

'They (the Ukrainians) didn't strike it. That was our sabotage group'

UKRAINE-CRISIS/DAM-HOLA PRYSTAN A local resident sits in an inflatable boat in a flooded area following the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in the town of Hola Prystan in the Kherson region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, June 8, 2023 | Reuters

Ukraine's security service said on Friday that it intercepted a call proving that a Russian 'sabotage group' blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric station and dam in southern Ukraine. The incident caused mass flooding and forced thousands to flee and wreaked environmental havoc. 

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) posted an audio clip on its Telegram channel of the alleged conversation, which featured two men who appeared to be discussing the fallout from the disaster in Russian, Reuters reported. 

"They (the Ukrainians) didn't strike it. That was our sabotage group," one of the men, described by the SBU as a Russian soldier said on the recording. "They wanted to, like, scare (people) with that dam." The men also said that with the breach they did more damage than they intended to do. 

The SBU said it had opened a criminal investigation into war crimes and "ecocide". "The interception by the SBU confirms that the Kakhovskaya HPP (Hydroelectric Power Plant) was blown up by a sabotage group of the occupiers," the SBU said in a statement.


Hundreds of Ukrainians were rescued from the flooded areas on Thursday. Reportedly, 600 square kilometres of the southern region of Kherson is under water. "Our task is to bring to justice not only the leaders of Russian President Vladimir) Putin's regime, but also the ordinary perpetrators of crimes," SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk said.

 

📣 The Week is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TheWeekmagazine) and stay updated with the latest headlines