How Ukrainians rescue people and animals in flooded Kherson region: photo

The Rubryka photo reporter continues to work at the scene of the disaster after the Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant and dam, causing flooding with overflowing water from the reservoir. 

According to the Kherson region authorities, the average level of flooding in the Kherson region is currently 5.61 meters. 600 square kilometers of the region remain underwater, of which 32% is the right bank, and 68% is the left bank, occupied by Russia.

Serhii Kruk, head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, said that almost 800 rescuers and more than 170 pieces of equipment are working in flooded areas.

"If necessary, the State Emergency Service is ready to attract another 250 personnel and more than 60 units of equipment currently in reserve. Every life saved is a great victory," Kruk said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam specifically to blackmail the whole world and are using the flood as a weapon. On June 6, the head of state held an urgent National Security and Defense Council meeting, during which international and security measures were agreed upon to keep the Russian Federation accountable for this terrorist attack.

The National Security and Defense Council members reported a threat of flooding up to 80 settlements. In addition, at least 150 tons of machine oil got into the Dnieper River, and there is a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons.

We will remind you that on the night of June 6, the Russian occupiers blew up the Kakhovskaya HPP dam. In this way, the invaders are trying to stop the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Energoatom state energy company stated that the Russian occupiers' detonation of the Kakhovka HPP dam could have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia NPP, as water from the Kakhovka reservoir is used for cooling the nuclear plant. Ukrhydroenergo reported that the Kakhovka reservoir would leak within four days. As a result of the explosion of the engine room from the inside, the HPP was completely destroyed. The station cannot be restored.