Ukraine has evacuated 17,000 people from flooded areas after the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. This was reported by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General. The evacuation is hampered by shelling by the Russian army. According to Chris Colijn, foreign editor of RTL Nieuws, many people live in the affected area. “More and more houses and villages are under water.”
Dozens of places were partially or completely flooded due to dam damage. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of an attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam. The right bank of the Dnieper is under Ukrainian control and the left bank is under Russian control.
Cherson
The dam in southern Ukraine was taken by Russia early in the invasion. The warring factions have long accused each other of planning an attack on the dam.
Also in the critical area is the large city of Kherson, where flooding has also been reported. “The evacuation is starting there too,” says Colijn. He also points out that many people “take off on their own and leave the area by train, bus or private vehicle”. Not everything is done by the local government.’
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Bombing
The evacuation is hampered by the Russians, who continue to bomb. “Across the river there are Russian soldiers. They’ve been shelling artillery all day,’ says Colijn. “Flying becomes very difficult when you are shot at.”
It is unclear how large the flooded area is and how many villages have been affected. “Many people used to live there, despite the fact that many fled because Russia is very close as the crow flies,” Colijn says. “These are tens of thousands of people, only on the Ukrainian side. A lot of people also live on the Russian side.’ Nothing is known yet of victims and wounded.
United Nations Security Council
Ukraine wants to draw attention to the situation after the dam explosion at an emergency session of the UN Security Council. “It will be very interesting,” thinks Colijn. It is unclear how the international community will respond. Many countries support Ukraine and that won’t change anytime soon. But the question is how could this happen and who is behind it?’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
