National Security Council spokesman questioned on Russia’s alleged destruction of dam and flood of ethnic Russian villages.
During a recent press briefing, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was confronted by a reporter regarding the accusations that Russia had destroyed the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine’s Kherson region. The reporter highlighted the seemingly illogical move by Russia, as this would flood ethnic Russian villages and cut off water supply to Crimea. Kirby did not give a direct answer, stating that the matter was being investigated with Ukrainian sources.
The Ukrainian military previously accused Russian forces of intentionally demolishing the dam at the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy referred to the Russian forces as “terrorists” and insisted that their removal from Ukrainian territory was necessary. He assured that victory would come and the terrorists would not succeed in stopping Ukraine.
In response, Russia denied the allegations, claiming that the Ukrainian army’s shelling destroyed the upper half of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. Their state news agency, RIA Novosti, reported that the Ukrainian troops attacked the power station, causing an unregulated discharge of water. The head of the administration of Novaya Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, confirmed that the valves on the dam were destroyed, but the dam itself remained intact. This resulted in a water level rise in the Dnieper within the city.
NSS spokesman’s reluctance to answer suggests that the U.S. remains cautious before reaching any conclusions about Russia’s alleged dam destruction.
