Ukrainian intelligence did indeed have information about Russian preparations to blow up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Ukraine shared this information with its foreign partners before the disaster.
Everyone understood that Russia and its collaborators had mined the dam last year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a press conference on the occasion of Journalist's Day.
"Without any specific details, but we received this information nevertheless," the president said.
Ukraine understood the risks in advance. Rescue teams were trained, the Interior Ministry was making contingency plans, and the prime minister also understood the situation.
"However, even though you know what to do, it does not mean that it is not a tragedy. It is a natural, social, and humanitarian challenge. We understand where to run, but the situation is very difficult," he said.
Zelensky added that 35 to 70 settlements would be flooded. There are already major problems with drinking water even in places that are not flooded throughout the region: in Dnipro, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson regions.
The consequences of the tragedy will be clear in about a week, when the water subsides. Then it will become clear what is left and what will happen next.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine would file a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court over the hydroelectric power station detonation.
Last night the Russian army blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Dozens of settlements were flooded, most of them occupied by Russia.