Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Ukrainian President Zelensky says it was physically impossible for his army to blow up the dam, President Putin calls it “a barbaric act”. Both countries have called on the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency consultation on the issue.
The flooding caused by the dam collapse is considered Ukraine’s worst environmental disaster in decades. Former ground forces commander Mart de Kruif believes that the destruction of the dam has entered a new phase of the offensive. ‘In the coming days, I see the focus shifting to the battles on the front lines, which you see flaring up everywhere,’ says De Kruif.
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Foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg thinks he’s right. He also sees indications for this in the stories Russian bloggers are posting this morning about a major attack in the town of Tokmak, between Mariupol and Zaporizhia, in which Himar’s artillery was used on a large scale. ‘120 vehicles, including tanks, divided into four columns. It’s a real attack. And since this comes from several Russian bloggers, I have the impression that it is also true.’
Village idiot
The head of the Wagner group’s mercenary army, Yevgeny Prigozhin, once again lashed out at the top Russian defense leaders in a video message. According to him, many people will be killed in the offensive that has now begun and those losses can no longer be sold to the Russian population. He predicts either a revolution within two months or the top defense will face a firing squad.
According to Hammelburg, Prigozhin is “a bit of a village idiot in this conflict”. Even if he thinks the man is right somewhere. “Regular Russian troops need to be deployed to a large extent, and they are not. The organization of the Russian armed forces is and remains a big mess. It’s always been like this in history’
Not decisive
Due to major floods following the dam’s destruction, the Russians managed to cut off important supply lines of the Ukrainian army. While strategically a major setback for the Ukrainians, this will not determine the outcome of the war according to Hammelburg. He points out that the dam collapse is now mostly a huge disaster for both camps. “Corpses float through the streets, Zelensky himself says so. It’s really awful. And I have to assume that things aren’t much better on the Russian side.’
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.
