Who blew up the hydroelectric dam? Another "Rashomon" incident! Expert warning: Russia-Ukraine conflict has become more uncontrollable hydropower station | Kahovka | incident
On the early morning of June 6th local time, the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in the Russian controlled area of Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine was attacked. Currently, the dam of the hydroelectric power station has collapsed by nearly half, and the collapse is still ongoing.
It is understood that the Kakhovka hydropower station is located in the lower reaches of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region. It was built in the 1950s and provides water sources for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Crimean Peninsula.
Regarding the destruction of the dam, both Russia and Ukraine fiercely opposed each other, accusing the attack of the other's actions.
Who exactly blew up the dam?
Currently, both Russia and Ukraine have different opinions on who bombed the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. The Russian side accuses the Ukrainian military of using "Red Poplar" multiple rocket launchers to continuously strike the hydroelectric dam. The Ukrainian side claimed that it was the Russian military who placed explosives from within and carried out explosions.
Military observer Shao Yongling stated that based on the current battlefield situation, both Russia and Ukraine have a motivation to implement.
Shao Yongling:
The Russian army has an advantage in the Donbass region, but its forces are relatively empty in southern regions such as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Therefore, the Ukrainian army wants to launch an attack in the south.
Now, the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam has caused the Dnieper River to flood, making it difficult for the Ukrainian army to cross the river. In addition, many places are flooded, and it will take at least a month for tanks and armored vehicles to pass through. These have an impact on the Ukrainian army's counterattack actions.
The Ukrainian side has always wanted to retrieve Crimea, which has caused great panic there through various means. If the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station is damaged and leads to water shortages in Crimea, more people may be forced to leave.
The event will have serious consequences
On June 6th local time, the damaged Kakhovka hydropower station
Military observer Shao Yongling expressed his views on the serious impact caused by the explosion of the Kakhovka hydropower station dam.
Shao Yongling:
Firstly, the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam will have an impact on the irrigation of surrounding farmland and the water supply of the Crimean Peninsula.
Secondly, not far from the Kakhovka hydropower station is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plants generate a large amount of heat during the power generation process, which requires continuous cooling. Therefore, the water in the Kakhovka Reservoir also plays a role in cooling the nuclear power plant. Once a nuclear power plant is unable to cool down and the reactor continues to react, it may lead to an explosion, affecting the safety of the nuclear power plant.
Ukraine's "counter-offensive" action attracts attention
As the outside world closely monitors the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, Ukraine has launched intensive operations on the battlefield.
On the early morning of June 6th, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Ukrainian army had launched another attack in multiple areas of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, all of which were repelled by the Russian army.
According to military observer Shao Yongling's analysis of the current war situation, Ukraine's long-standing "counterattack" operation has begun, but due to its strength, it is unable to launch large-scale operations.
Shao Yongling:
If the Ukrainian army wants to launch a large-scale counterattack, it may need more weapons and equipment. However, now, there are still many weapons and equipment promised by the West to Ukraine, including fighter jets, that are not in place.
If Ukraine relies solely on ground forces to charge, without fighter cover or air support, the risk of Ukraine's "counterattack" operation is still relatively high.
I think the Ukrainian army may be trying to find the weaknesses of the Russian army and launching a small-scale counterattack.
The increasingly out of control Russia-Ukraine conflict
On June 6th local time, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on the damage to the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. The Chinese representative expressed serious concern over the damage to the hydroelectric dam and called on all parties to maintain rational restraint and resume peace talks.
Shao Yongling believes that at present, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has entered a more uncontrollable stage.
Shao Yongling:
At present, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has affected more and more regions, involved more and more people, and used more and more intense means. Last year, the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline was bombed, but it was still at sea, far from the Russia Ukraine front line. Now, the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam will have a direct impact on the entire war.
In short, the longer the war drags on, the greater the uncertainty, which is also the reason why China has always insisted on using persuasion and negotiation to resolve conflicts.
