On June 8, tensions escalated as Russian President Vladimir Putin labelled Ukraine’s destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam a “barbaric act.” Class full has resulted in widespread flooding and accusations from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Moscow was behind the dam’s destruction. Zelenskyy also claimed that Russia-backed forces have been struggling to evacuate residents in the affected areas.
Russian troops reportedly fired at Ukrainian rescue staff making an attempt to evacuate residents within the occupied regions of Kherson after the dam breach. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko revealed that 30 settlements had been flooded, with 10 beneath Russian management. Almost 6,000 people had been evacuated from each side of the Dnipro river. The Red Cross expressed concern that the dam breach would severely impression efforts to find landmines within the region.
Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov, confirmed that Ukraine had not yet initiated its anticipated counteroffensive. Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod area, reported that the town of Shebekino was struck by several shells from Ukraine.
In response to the dam explosion, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan known as for a “comprehensive investigation,” suggesting an inquiry involving representatives from the United Nations, Ukraine, Russia, and the worldwide neighborhood. France pledged to send help to Ukraine to help address the humanitarian consequences of the dam blast, while China expressed “serious concern” over the incident, fearing “humanitarian, financial and ecological impacts.”
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg announced a meeting to discuss the “outrageous destruction” of Nova Kakhovka, and United States President Joe Biden is set to host Stoltenberg for talks on Monday, with Ukraine topping the agenda. In May, China’s trade with Russia reached $20.5bn, the best level in a single month since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine..