The president of the European Council said on Tuesday he would propose to European Union (EU) leaders to help Ukraine more in the “unprecedented attack” on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, accusing Russia of committing a war crime.
“I am shocked by the unprecedented attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam. The destruction of civilian infrastructure is clearly qualified as a war crime and we will hold Russia and its representatives accountable,” emphasized Charles Michel, in a publication on the social network Twitter.
The President of the European Council indicated that he will discuss this issue at the summit of EU heads of government and state at the end of this month, adding that he will also “propose more aid to flooded areas”.
“My thoughts are with all the families in Ukraine affected by this catastrophe,” complains Charles Michel.
Shocked by the unprecedented attack of the Nova Kakhovka dam.
The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime – and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.
-Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 6, 2023
Ukrainian authorities today accused Russian troops of blowing up the dam at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station and asked residents in areas along the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine to evacuate their homes.
The Southern Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has accelerated the destruction of infrastructure 60 kilometers from the city of Kherson and said it is investigating the extent of the damage, as well as the speed and amount of water that should hit neighboring areas.
Ukraine and Russia had exchanged accusations about alleged attacks on the dam, and in October Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow had planted explosives in the structure to cause a flood and hinder the advance of Ukrainian troops.
Last February, the water level at the Kakhovka Dam was so low that many feared a collapse at the Russian-occupied Zaporijia Nuclear Power Plant, whose cooling systems are supplied with water from a reservoir maintained by the dam.
In mid-May, after heavy rains and melting winter snows, water levels rose above normal levels, flooding nearby villages.
Source: DN
