Even four weeks after the Kachowka dam collapsed, the aftermath is still visible everywhere. Even though the water has subsided – there is an image of devastation everywhere.
A month has passed since the destruction of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, which flooded much of the Kherson region. The disaster forced thousands of people to flee and raised fears of an environmental catastrophe.
A month later, the water drained away, but it left a trail of devastation. Many local people feel abandoned, like 86-year-old Nadiya Yefremova from Afanasiyivka: “Those in charge say the water is not coming anymore – so we have to deal with the consequences ourselves. You need money for that! Who do it for free…”
Outside, the ground the water has receded from is now dark brown and consists of dead grass and mud. The harvest is destroyed. The UN and humanitarian organizations are in the region, but the effects of the dam failure and flooding will be felt for months, if not years.
Tense situation around Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
The situation in Zaporizhia remains “tense”. Kiev and Moscow accuse each other of planning an attack on the nuclear power plant. The UN nuclear safety agency, IAEA, called for better access after President Zelenskyy accused Moscow of planting explosives on the roofs of several nuclear power plant blocks.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced that Russian forces had attacked three Ukrainian army groups near Bakhmut. However, there are conflicting reports of fighting in the area. Kiev claims partial success.