2023-06-07 11:19:38
The destruction of the New Kakhovka Damin eastern Ukraine, has already caused the spill into the Dnieper river of about 150 tons of motor oilaccording to the Ukrainian authorities, who fear a ecological disaster.
The President of Ukraine, Volodir Zelenski, has urgently met this Monday his National Security and Defense Council to examine the consequences of infrastructure destructionlocated in the Jershon region.
At the meeting, the spill of at least 150 tons of oil has been confirmed. In addition, according to a note from the Presidency, “there is a risk of a new spill of more than 300 tons”, although Zelenski’s office has not specified the origin.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a strong condemnation Tuesday over the attack on the dam of the Kajovka hydroelectric power plant in Jerson, Ukraine. Guterres has claimed that this attack is a direct consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, although he has pointed out that the UN does not have independent information on the precise details of how this devastating act occurred.
In his statements to the media, Guterres has made it clear that while full information is not available on the specific circumstances that led to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the connection to the Russian invasion is undeniable.. He has stressed that this act constitutes a most deplorable consequence of the violence and aggression that has occurred in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
On the other hand, non-governmental organizations Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have expressed their condemnation of the environmental and humanitarian disaster caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam on the Dnieper River. Both organizations are deeply concerned about the safety of the people affected and the environmental devastation resulting from the floods.
Richard Pearshouse, HRW’s director of environment and human rights, has urged the Russian and Ukrainian authorities to evacuate all civilians from the affected areas and provide medical and humanitarian care to those who need it.. For her part, Marie Struthers, AI’s regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, has called on the international community to work to bring those responsible for this “enormous humanitarian disaster” to justice.
Struthers has highlighted the importance of protecting dams according to the norms of Humanitarian Law due to the dangers that their destruction represents for the civilian population. In addition, he has stressed that the destruction of the dam will severely affect the supply of drinking water, including in major cities and in the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. He has also raised concerns about possible catastrophic effects at the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, which depends on water from the Dnieper River for its critical operation.
Both organizations They have demanded an independent and impartial investigation into the incident and have reiterated their call for justice and reparation for the victims and survivors of this disaster..
The floods triggered by the destruction of the New Kajovka dam, located on the Dnieper River 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian city of Jerson, have resulted in the disappearance of at least seven people. According to the pro-Russian mayor of the town, Vladimir Leontiev, it is presumed that these people were also evacuated from the floodplains that have now disappeared due to the destruction of the dam.
The presence of shepherds among the disappeared has been reported. So far, search efforts are underway in the affected area.
Besides, Nearly 900 people have been evacuated from the affected territories and 17 people who were on rooftops have been rescued, since the water level reached a height of 12 meters. Authorities have predicted that the water level will begin to drop within three days.
From the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has held Russian troops responsible for destroying with explosives the New Kajovka Dam in the Jerson region, describing it as the biggest environmental disaster provoked by Europe in decades. During a telematic meeting with leaders of Eastern European countries, Zelensky accused “Russian terrorists” of destroying the plant, which had been under Russian control for more than a year.
the ukrainian president has ruled out the possibility of accident or negligence, stating that the explosion was deliberate and that mines were laid. According to Zelensky, some 80 towns are already flooded and he fears that tens of thousands of people are in danger. The Ukrainian government has started evacuation efforts to deal with the initial consequences of this incident.
The dam was also a vital source of drinking water and supported agricultural and livestock production, compounding the environmental consequences.
Zelenski has appreciated the political support and has advocated for greater military support, including an anti-missile shield and a new coalition that allows Ukraine to have modern fighters.. He believes that it is time to show that there is no weakness in Europe and expects practical gestures at the NATO leaders’ summit to be held in July in Lithuania, such as an invitation to join and clear security guarantees.
during a meeting in the UN Security Council, the representative of Russia, Vasily Nebenzia, stated that Ukraine had already declared its intention to blow up the New Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River. According to Nebenzia, the daily The Washington Post published an article mentioning that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had conducted tests of HIMARS missile attacks against one of the locks of the Novokajovskaya dam. In addition, Russia had warned about the possibility of this attack in a document presented to the Security Council in October.
In response, Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya called Russia’s statement “predictable” and accused the country of using the same tactic of blaming others for its crimes.. Kyslytsya cited previous examples of Russia-Ukraine conflicts, such as Mariupol, Bucha, Izium and the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, to support her argument.
Kyslytsya also claimed that Russia had been in control of the dam and the entire Kakhovka power station for more than a year, making it physically impossible to destroy it from the outside by shelling. According to him, the dam was mined by Russian forces and it was they who blew it up.
The dispute between Russia and Ukraine over responsibility for the explosion of the New Kakhovka dam continues, making clear the existing tensions between both countries. While Russia maintains that Ukraine planned and carried out the attack, Ukraine denies the allegations and attributes the destruction of the dam to Russia’s actions. The international community remains attentive to this situation, which raises concerns about security and stability in the region.
#tons #oil #pollute #Dnieper #river #Ukraine