Russian occupying forces carried out an explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station during the night. In the Kherson region, the evacuation of residents from the affected areas at risk of flooding has begun.
The head of the Kherson Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, and the Operational Command South confirmed the incident. According to intelligence reports, the explosion occurred around 2:30 am.
The turbine hall of the power station was reportedly detonated from the inside. The station has been completely destroyed and is not capable of being restored.
Prokudin stated that the evacuation of residents from the at-risk areas in Kherson has commenced due to the threat of flooding caused by the explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station.
At 10:50 am, local media outlets shared videos showing the power station submerged in water. While there is no official confirmation yet, the footage has been disseminated by the border service.
As of 10 am, the Interior Ministry reported the evacuation of 742 individuals. The water levels are rising, and the situation is exacerbated by the destruction of certain roads, hindering access to some populated areas. Evacuation teams are seeking alternative routes.
Approximately 80 settlements are within the potential flood zone, with the majority of them temporarily occupied, according to the Ministry.
The city of Nova Kakhovka is also experiencing flooding, as confirmed by the mayor, Kovalenko, in a comment to the press.
"The explosion is horrifying because it affected not only the roads but also the dam itself. Unfortunately, the turbine hall of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, the heart of the plant, was destroyed. The devastation is of a technogenic nature, and at the moment, a significant amount of water is pouring in," he stated.
The zoo, cafes, streets, and yacht clubs in the city have been submerged.
At 9:32 am, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense provided details about the explosion. The Russians carried out the detonation around 2:30 am. According to intelligence, the occupiers had planted additional mines on the gates and supports after seizing control of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station in April of the previous year. Covered trucks with explosives were placed on the dam.
Ukrhydroenergo reported that the Russians detonated the turbine hall of the power station from the inside, rendering it irreparable. The reservoir is expected to be triggered within the next four days.
According to Natalya Humenyuk, spokesperson for the Defence Forces South, the Russian terrorists detonated the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station dam to exert technogenic pressure and blackmail Ukraine. She stated that, being unable to wait any longer for the counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, they are attempting to provoke a particular situation.
At 9:17 am, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that 80 settlements were under the threat of flooding.
"We are assessing the environmental consequences and the risk to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Due to the lack of access, this assessment is challenging," he said.
The explosion at the hydroelectric power station poses a threat to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently occupied. As of 8 am, the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir reached 16.6 metres, which is sufficient for the needs of the power plant.
"The water from the Kakhovka reservoir is necessary for the power plant to replenish the cooling pond and supply water to the turbine condensers and safety systems. Currently, the cooling pond is filled, with the water level at 16.6 metres as of 8 am, which is sufficient for the needs of the power plant," reported Energoatom.
During a telethon, Prokudin provided an update on the situation as of 7:30 am. The settlements of Tyahinka, Lvov, Odrado-Kamyanka in Beryslav District, Ivanivka, Mykilska, Tokarivka, Ponyativka, Bilozerka, and the Ostriv district in Kherson have been partially or completely flooded.
"We understand that other settlements will also be affected, and we are prepared for that. Evacuation of residents from these settlements has been organized using buses to transport them to Kherson, then to Mykolayiv, and from there to Khmelnytskyy, Odesa, Kropyvnytskyy, Kyiv, and other cities," he noted.
Approximately 16,000 residents on the right bank of the Kherson region are at risk and will be evacuated.