Russia launched six missiles at Pechenihy dam, the largest reservoir in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region on Tuesday, Ukrainian military reported.
Four of the missiles hit the ground near the hydraulic structures, and two more hit the water. The 16th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces pointed to the timing of the attack when the reservoir is full.
"The timing of the attack demonstrates a particular cynicism on the part of the invaders. The enemy is attempting to exploit the moment when, due to the spring flood, the reservoir holds its maximum volume of water,” the Corps said in a statement posted on Telegram app.
If the dam had been destroyed during the present period of elevated water levels, the impact on downstream communities would have been devastating, triggering widespread flooding and a serious environmental crisis. A hromada refers to a local administrative unit that can encompass a single settlement or multiple villages and their surrounding areas.
According to the 16th Army Corps, after failing to secure tangible gains on the battlefield, Russian forces have shifted their focus to information and psychological operations.
The military reports that fabricated claims about damage to the dam, along with alleged emergency water releases, are being circulated through fake Kharkiv-themed social media accounts operated by Russia. In fact, the dam remains intact, and any release of water is being conducted in a deliberate and regulated way, the Corps emphasized.
They further noted that, based on lessons learned from earlier covert attacks, contingency plans for swiftly addressing potential emergencies have already been prepared.
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