Moldovan authorities condemned destruction of Kahovka dam: Russia's targeting of critical infrastructure amounts to war crimes

13:32 | 06.06.2023 Category: Political

Chisinau, 6 June /MOLDPRES/- Moldovan authorities condemned the destruction of the Kahovka dam in the Russian-controlled area in southern Ukraine. Following the incident, 80 localities are at risk of being flooded.

President Maia Sandu said that Russia's targeting of critical infrastructure amounts to war crimes. “I strongly condemn the destruction of the Nova Kahovka dam this morning. Mr. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, we are ready to provide assistance in response to the floods and support efforts to mitigate the impact," wrote Maia Sandu on a social network.

“We strongly condemn the deliberate destruction of the Nova Kahovka dam in the Kherson region of Ukraine, which endangers civilians and creates new challenges throughout the region. Russia must be held accountable. We stand by Ukraine and are ready to provide the necessary assistance," wrote Dorin Recean on a social network.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration said that Moldova is united in condemning the terrible destruction of the Kahovka dam in Kherson. "This act of barbarism will devastate countless lives and poses significant risks to the entire region. Russia must be held accountable for all the crimes committed in Ukraine", Popescu said.

The dam, 30 meters tall and 3.2 kilometers long, with walls 18 meters thick, was built in 1956 on the Dnieper River as part of the Kahovka hydroelectric power plant. The construction holds 18 cubic kilometers of water that is also supplied to the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, and to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which is also under Russian control.

Ukraine's military said Russian forces blew up the dam. Russian news agencies said the dam, controlled by Moscow's forces, had been destroyed by shelling, while a Russian-installed official said it was a terrorist attack - a term often used to accuse Ukraine of an attack.

Photo: twitter.com

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