On Tuesday, both Ukrainian and Russian officials confirmed that the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine had been destroyed, raising concerns about potential flooding in downstream areas along the Dnipro River.
This dam, a relic from the Soviet era, not only served as a hydroelectric plant but also supplied water to the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, currently under Russian control.
According to Ukraine’s Armed Forces South command, the Russian occupying forces were responsible for the destruction of the Kakhovka reservoir. The extent of the damage, the rapid influx of water, and the areas likely to be affected are currently being assessed.
In response to the imminent threat, the Kherson regional administration in Ukraine initiated the evacuation of residents from vulnerable areas, anticipating critical water levels within the next five hours.
Social media footage circulated showing significant damage inflicted on the dam, supporting the reports of its destruction.
Initially, the Moscow-appointed mayor of the nearby town of Nova Kakhovka denied the claims circulating on social media regarding the dam’s destruction. However, he later acknowledged that the dam had indeed been subjected to shelling, referring to it as a “serious terrorist act.”
Russia’s state news agency TASS reported that there was not yet any “critical danger” posed to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Here are some of the other developments concerning Russia’s war in Ukraine on Tuesday, June 6:
Russia Launches Overnight Air Attack
According to the military administration of Kyiv, air defense systems were activated to fend off air attacks in Kyiv and the surrounding region during the early hours of Tuesday. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, confirmed that the blasts heard in the city were the result of the air defense systems intercepting and repelling the attack.
Following the incident, the Kyiv military administration reported that over 20 enemy targets had been successfully destroyed by the air defenses.
Throughout Ukraine, air raid alerts were in effect overnight as Russia initiated another series of airstrikes on various Ukrainian cities. The situation remains tense as the conflict escalates between the two nations.
Zelenskyy Celebrates Advances as Russia Claims Repelled Offensive
In a video address to the Ukrainian people on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for the reported advances made by Ukrainian troops near the devastated city of Bakhmut.
He described it as long-awaited news and expressed gratitude to all soldiers and defenders who contributed to this progress, emphasizing their skill, determination, and effectiveness in defending positions, eliminating occupiers, and advancing forward.
Zelenskyy also commented on Russia’s reaction, describing it as “hysterical” in response to the actions of Ukrainian forces.
On the other hand, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it had successfully repelled a major offensive by Ukrainian forces in Donetsk.
According to their claims, the Russian forces inflicted significant casualties on the Ukrainian side and destroyed eight main battle Leopard tanks during the encounter.
The situation remains dynamic and tense as both sides continue to engage in military operations, with conflicting reports and narratives emerging from each side.
Freedom of Russia Legion: Soldiers Claim Ownership of Captured Territory
Ilya Ponomarev, who was a deputy in the Russian State Duma, now lives in Ukraine and is the political representative of the Freedom of Russia Legion militia.
Ponomarev told DW that the troops he represents are besieging Shebekino, the district capital in the Belgorod region. They also took control over approximately a dozen small villages alongside the Russian-Ukrainian border, he said.
Ponomarev said that while both units — the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps — were part of the Ukrainian military’s international legion, “for this particular operation, everybody took vacations.”
“Officially we are totally on our own. So we are not guided by the Ukrainian military. They don’t supervise the operation. They don’t supply the operation,” he said.
Ponomarev also said that militias use the weapons procured during the previous fights on Ukrainian territory, and it’s predominantly Russian-made equipment.
He did however acknowledge the fighters had some small US weapons, but said only if they had first been captured by Russians and then reclaimed.
“But everything that is lost at the battlefield and everything that is being captured by the soldiers, it stays with the soldiers. And there is no violation of no regulation whatsoever,” he said.
