Kahovka Dam blast: If you lose, destroy everything

UKRAINE - In Brief 06 Jun 2023 by Dmytro Boyarchuk

---

On the night of June 5th, the Russians destroyed the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam. It is difficult for me to comment on how this incident might impact the ongoing counteroffensive. There may be some adjustments in plans and potential delays as a result. Crossing the Dnipro River to the South-West of Kakhovka will likely become more challenging for the Ukrainian forces. However, it does not mean that Russians have stopped counteroffensive with this criminal deed, as they claim. From a military standpoint, the act of blasting the dam had little strategic value, as many military experts have already commented. However, as an intimidation tactic, it serves the purpose of sending a message that "look, we are totally crazy hear we can destroy everything if you keep beating us." In that sense, it holds a certain logic. It is quite perplexing that some Western media outlets entertain the idea that Ukraine might be responsible for the blast. While prominent journalists kept guessing who destroyed the dam, the entire economic landscape of the region has been devastated for years to come. While the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant itself may not have held significant importance for the energy system, the Kakhov reservoir played a vital role in providing irrigation for the surrounding area, supplying tap water to cities and villages, and serving as a water source for numerous production facilities. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam has severely damaged the local economy, and the road to recovery will undoubtedly be challenging, let alone the impact on the ecology and the tragedy of thousands of people who lost their homes. Experts assert that the water level will ret...