Russia fired missiles at several electricity supplies in Ukraine last night. The dam of the largest hydroelectric power station in the country was hit. Images show it ablaze. The Russian Ministry of Defense speaks of a “retaliation action”.
KVDS
Mar 22 2024
Latest update:
12:57
Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko calls last night’s attack “the largest on the Ukrainian energy sector in recent times.” According to him, the aim was “to cause damage and, like last year, try to cause a large-scale disruption of the Ukrainian energy system.”
At least five people were killed in the attack on the 800-meter Dnipro Dam in Zaporizhia, according to the latest information from Ukrainian authorities. At least 21 others were injured, according to local authorities.
The attack also led to major power outages in the region. The dam supplies electricity to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe. The main power line to the nuclear power plant was cut, said Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. A second line with a lower power and the emergency generators of the nuclear power plant continued to work, so safety was not jeopardized.
3.3 billion tons of water
At no time was there any danger of the dam of the hydroelectric power station breaking, according to the Ukrainian Hydropower Authority. That would have been a disaster, because it holds back 3.3 billion tons of water. Such an incident could not only have disrupted supplies to the nuclear power plant, but also caused serious flooding, as happened last year when the Kakhovka dam was destroyed.
The Dnipro Dam was built in the late 1920s and destroyed twice during World War II. The first time to make it more difficult for the German troops to advance, the second time by the retreating Germans themselves. After the war it was rebuilt.
Russia also attacked energy infrastructure in the city of Kharkiv last night. That left almost the entire city without power. There were also impacts in Odesa and Mykolaiv.
The Russian Ministry of Defense speaks of a “retaliation” after the many drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian oil refineries and depots and the attacks by Russian rebels in the border region.
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Tags: Russian missiles hit dam Ukraines largest hydroelectric power station images show devastation War Ukraine Russia
