Ukraine says Russia destroyed Kakhovka dam, causing possible harm to nuclear plant

VLADIVOSTOK/KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Russian forces had destroyed the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam in southern Ukraine.

All services are working to eliminate the consequences of the incident, Zelensky said in a Telegram post, adding that he had convened the National Security and Defense Council.

Ukraine's state-run nuclear energy operator Energoatom said that the destruction of the dam may have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The plant is using water from the Kakhovka reservoir to power its turbine capacitors and safety systems, Energoatom said, noting that currently the situation at the plant is under control.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Leontiev, mayor of Nova Kakhovka, said on Tuesday that the upper part of the power plant was destroyed due to shelling, but the reservoir dam remained unaffected.

The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, serving as the final stage of the Dnieper hydroelectric power plant cascade, is situated just 5 kilometers away from Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region.

Following the destruction of the power plant, the water level downstream rose by 2.5 meters, the mayor said, adding that although evacuation is not required for the city, it might be necessary for downstream settlements.

Approximately 300 houses could potentially be affected by flooding, Leontiev noted. "We have currently diverted buses from their regular routes, and we are prepared to evacuate people if necessary," he said.

The mayor said that there will be "no catastrophic outcome."