Russia and Ukraine are struggling to contain the effects of one of the biggest humanitarian crises unleashed due to the war, the breach of the key Ukrainian Dam. It has triggered a massive flood downstream. At least seven people have already died in the flood affected areas and the political blame game is on more in our next report.

Ukraine dam breach: Russia-Ukraine blame game continues

Leaked Pentagon papers suggest Ukraine blew up the Nord Stream pipeline and the CIA knew about it at least 3 months before the attack, as did the European intel agency. Why did the White House then not stop Kyiv from bombing critical infrastructure?

Gravitas | Ukraine bombed Russia's Nord Stream pipeline, CIA had prior intel: Leaked files

<p>India remains non-committal to inviting Ukraine to the G20 summit, scheduled to be held later this year in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a special briefing on Thursday to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi government wherein he made it clear&nbsp;that no invitation had been sent to Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"G20 is only for members. Haven’t reviewed the list nor has anyone talked to us about it," said Jaishankar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The EAM confirmed invites for the summit had been sent, immediately after India assumed the presidency. The statement by Jaishankar effectively brings an end to rumours that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may get the opportunity to address the G20 countries during the summit.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"G20 is only for members. Haven’t reviewed the list nor has anyone talked to us about it", EAM Jaishankar on if Ukraine president Ukraine Zelenskyy be invited for G20 summit in Delhi</p>
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<p>Jaishankar's statement should not come as a surprise as he has previously iterated that&nbsp;G20 was not a platform to debate international peace and security.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think our contribution was to get G20 back to the G20's real business. The G20 is not the UN Security Council. It is not the primary forum to debate international peace and security," Jaishankar had said during an event in March.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added issues such as&nbsp;international peace and security did matter, but other issues such as&nbsp;food and energy security, green financing for nations took prominence on the G20 stage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We actually got something novel for the G20 to look at -- Global Skills Mapping. Where are the skills in the world and where&nbsp;is the demand in the world. They are in two different geographies. So, how do we actually put that together? I think that is a very interesting avenue which we have opened up for G20."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Kyiv's attempts to secure participation&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In April, Ukraine's first deputy foreign affairs minister Emine Dzhaparova visited New Delhi and attempted to set the ball rolling for Ukraine's participation in the G20 summit.</p>

<p>"I think India is a global player. It is really a 'Vishwaguru' of the world. We are feeling the pain by actually fighting for the values. This is about justice... Russia is questioning the very existence of my country. In our history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any country," said&nbsp;Dzheppar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the statement by Jaishankar may have come as a blow to Kyiv's hopes.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-modi-speaks-to-ukraine-president-zelensky-459763"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Indian PM Modi speaks to Ukraine President Zelensky</strong></a></p>

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<h2>A tall order&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Zelensky addressing the G20 summit was always going to be a tall order, especially considering Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the meet in New Delhi.</p>

<p>Even after the foreign ministers' meeting held in March, India said&nbsp;the differences over Ukraine "could not be reconciled".</p>

<p>"We tried, but the gap between the countries was too much," said Jaishankar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the G20, which includes the world's 19 wealthiest nations plus the European Union, accounts for 85 per cent&nbsp;of global economic output and two-thirds of its population.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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India remains non-committal to inviting Ukraine to the G20 summit, scheduled to be held later this year in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a special briefing on Thursday to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi government wherein he made it clear that no invitation had been sent to Ukraine.

India remains non-committal to inviting Ukraine to the G20 summit, scheduled to be held later this year in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a special briefing on Thursday to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi government wherein he made it clear that no invitation had been sent to Ukraine. "G20 is only for members. Haven’t reviewed the list nor has anyone talked to us about it," said Jaishankar. The EAM confirmed invites for the summit had been sent, immediately after India assumed the presidency. The statement by Jaishankar effectively brings an end to rumours that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may get the opportunity to address the G20 countries during the summit. "G20 is only for members. Haven’t reviewed the list nor has anyone talked to us about it", EAM Jaishankar on if Ukraine president Ukraine Zelenskyy be invited for G20 summit in Delhi — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 8, 2023 × Jaishankar's statement should not come as a surprise as he has previously iterated that G20 was not a platform to debate international peace and security. "I think our contribution was to get G20 back to the G20's real business. The G20 is not the UN Security Council. It is not the primary forum to debate international peace and security," Jaishankar had said during an event in March. He added issues such as international peace and security did matter, but other issues such as food and energy security, green financing for nations took prominence on the G20 stage. "We actually got something novel for the G20 to look at -- Global Skills Mapping. Where are the skills in the world and where is the demand in the world. They are in two different geographies. So, how do we actually put that together? I think that is a very interesting avenue which we have opened up for G20." Kyiv's attempts to secure participation In April, Ukraine's first deputy foreign affairs minister Emine Dzhaparova visited New Delhi and attempted to set the ball rolling for Ukraine's participation in the G20 summit. "I think India is a global player. It is really a 'Vishwaguru' of the world. We are feeling the pain by actually fighting for the values. This is about justice... Russia is questioning the very existence of my country. In our history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any country," said Dzheppar. However, the statement by Jaishankar may have come as a blow to Kyiv's hopes. WATCH | Indian PM Modi speaks to Ukraine President Zelensky × A tall order Zelensky addressing the G20 summit was always going to be a tall order, especially considering Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the meet in New Delhi. Even after the foreign ministers' meeting held in March, India said the differences over Ukraine "could not be reconciled". "We tried, but the gap between the countries was too much," said Jaishankar. Notably, the G20, which includes the world's 19 wealthiest nations plus the European Union, accounts for 85 per cent of global economic output and two-thirds of its population. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India's foreign minister Jaishankar confirms Ukraine has not been invited to G20 summit

The collapse of Ukraine's Kakhovka dam sparks fears of an ecological catastrophe.

'Ukraine dam breach an environmental bomb' | WION Climate Tracker

<p>The Kakhovka dam was damaged recently, becoming the next flashpoint of the Russia- Ukrainian war. Both parties have accused the other of blowing up the structure. In the midst of this controversy, two women have drawn attention to the threats posed by the Kakhovka dam’s breakage. Alisa Malysheva and Alisa Malysheva dropped a series of pictures on Instagram with a poster that reads, "My Home Is Flooding Because Of Russia."</p>

<p>“Today Russians committed a terrorist act by blowing up the Kakhovka dam, which was under Russian control for more than a year. This is likely the biggest technological disaster Europe has experienced in decades," the post said.</p>

<p>The post continued, “As a result, more than 13 settlements were flooded, more than 1,300 people evacuated so far. The statistics is only about territory which is controlled by Ukraine, the consequences on the occupied by Russians territory is bigger and hidden. Destruction of hydroelectric power plants is considered a weapon of mass destruction and a war crime. Russians are dangerous for everything alive.”</p>

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<p>On June 6, the Kakhovka dam, which maintains a massive reservoir of 2,155 square kilometres on the Dnipro river, was attacked. The dam provides water to a large region of the southern Ukrainian countryside, including the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. It also serves to cool the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which is in control of Russian forces, as per Reuters. The reservoir holds 18 cubic kilometres of water, which is approximately equal to the Great Salt Lake in the United States.</p>

<p>The Kakhovka dam was constructed in the mid-1950s during the Soviet Union era. The reservoir is 140 kilometres long and 23 kilometres wide. Since the dam was damaged, images and videos of flooded cities and villages have been making the rounds on social media.</p>

<p>The &nbsp;Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station is not under any immediate threat. "Our current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the Zaporizhzhia plant," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi told Reuters.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
107%;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
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mso-ansi-language:EN-IN;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</span></i></strong></p>

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The Kakhovka dam was damaged recently, becoming the next flashpoint of the Russia- Ukrainian war. Both parties have accused the other of blowing up the structure.

The Kakhovka dam was damaged recently, becoming the next flashpoint of the Russia- Ukrainian war. Both parties have accused the other of blowing up the structure. In the midst of this controversy, two women have drawn attention to the threats posed by the Kakhovka dam’s breakage. Alisa Malysheva and Alisa Malysheva dropped a series of pictures on Instagram with a poster that reads, "My Home Is Flooding Because Of Russia." “Today Russians committed a terrorist act by blowing up the Kakhovka dam, which was under Russian control for more than a year. This is likely the biggest technological disaster Europe has experienced in decades," the post said. The post continued, “As a result, more than 13 settlements were flooded, more than 1,300 people evacuated so far. The statistics is only about territory which is controlled by Ukraine, the consequences on the occupied by Russians territory is bigger and hidden. Destruction of hydroelectric power plants is considered a weapon of mass destruction and a war crime. Russians are dangerous for everything alive.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by соня квітка (@your_kvitka) × On June 6, the Kakhovka dam, which maintains a massive reservoir of 2,155 square kilometres on the Dnipro river, was attacked. The dam provides water to a large region of the southern Ukrainian countryside, including the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. It also serves to cool the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which is in control of Russian forces, as per Reuters. The reservoir holds 18 cubic kilometres of water, which is approximately equal to the Great Salt Lake in the United States. The Kakhovka dam was constructed in the mid-1950s during the Soviet Union era. The reservoir is 140 kilometres long and 23 kilometres wide. Since the dam was damaged, images and videos of flooded cities and villages have been making the rounds on social media. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station is not under any immediate threat. "Our current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the Zaporizhzhia plant," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi told Reuters. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ukrainian women accuse Russia of blowing up dam, rendering thousands homeless

In Pics | Ukraine dam collapse: Three dead, thousands displaced due to floods

<p>The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid&nbsp;the ongoing conflict. The partial destruction of the dam, as per both officials in Moscow and Kyiv has unleashed a torrent of water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Officials in Ukraine,&nbsp;hours after the damage, confirmed that some two dozen settlements had been flooded and at least 17,000 people have since been evacuated. The Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in southern Ukraine is home to the dam that both sides have accused each other of attacking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kyiv has also called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)&nbsp;to hold an emergency meeting over what it has described as a&nbsp;“Russian terrorist act”.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dubbed the attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam as a “deliberate sabotage” by Ukraine. The UNSC has agreed to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam issue after both Moscow and Kyiv called for the meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the Nova Kakhovka dam</strong></h2>

<p>The Soviet-era dam, which is 98 feet tall and 3.2 kilometres long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River and holds significant amounts of water. The dam is a part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Russia-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Reuters, the water that the dam can hold amounts to that of the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah which is approximately 18 cubic kilometres. It is also one of the six dams that sit along the Dnipro River and is often referred to as the Kakhovka Sea as one cannot see the other bank in certain places, reported BBC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dam is also responsible for the water supply to southern Ukraine’s agricultural land, the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula and the Moscow-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The reservoir also feeds the Soviet-era North Crimean Canal which supplies around 85 per cent of Crimea’s water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dam’s reservoir also provides water&nbsp;essential for cooling the six reactors at the power plant. Additionally, farmers in the surrounding area&nbsp;also rely on the water from this dam to grow their crops and thousands are now set to face trouble in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Geneva Conventions explicitly bans targeting dams during wars, due to the dangers posed to civilians by the destruction of such “works and installations containing dangerous forces”.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened at Nova Kakhovka dam?</strong></h2>

<p>Russia and Ukraine have both blamed each other for the supposed attack which has led to massive damage to the dam's structure. Kyiv, which was reportedly the first one to report the damage to the Nova Kakhovka dam, blamed Russia. On the other hand,&nbsp;there have been conflicting reports from the Russia-installed officials.</p>

<p>Images and videos from the scene show a massive breach in the dam with a large amount of water flowing downstream in the direction of the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Meanwhile, neither Kyiv nor Moscow have offered immediate public evidence to back up their claims.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Terrorist attack,’ ‘ecocide’: Ukraine about&nbsp;Nova Kakhovka dam&nbsp;incident</strong></h2>

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused “Russian terrorists” of destroying the dam. He went on to allege that the Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station from the inside and must be held accountable for this “terrorist attack.”</p>

<p>The Ukrainian president after an emergency meeting of senior officials said that the incident took place at around 2:50 am (local time) and an “internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP" occurred. "About 80 settlements are in the zone of flooding”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zelensky also said that the “world must react,” adding, “This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime,” and went on to accuse Moscow of committing an act of “ecocide.” “Russia is at war with life, with nature, with civilisation. Russia must leave Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror,” said the Ukrainian president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Ukrainian military spokesperson has also alleged that the dam was attacked to prevent Kyiv’s troops from crossing the Dnipro River to attack Russian troops occupying the area. The incident comes as Ukraine said Monday it was conducting “offensive action"&nbsp;on the front line amid speculation that the long-expected counteroffensive is underway.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>From no attack to ‘deliberate sabotage’: What did Russia say about the&nbsp;accusations?</strong></h2>

<p>As per initial reports, a Russia-installed official in Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov said no attack had taken place and that the dam collapsed due to existing damage and the pressure of the water. It was not until&nbsp;later that the Kremlin spokesperson said that it was a Ukrainian attempt to stop the water&nbsp;supply to the Crimean peninsula which Russia had annexed back in 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We can state unequivocally that we are talking about deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side,” said the Kremlin spokesperson. He added, “All responsibility lies with the Kyiv regime.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Clearly one of the aims of this act of sabotage was to deprive Crimea of water - the water level in the reservoir is dropping and, accordingly, the water supply to the canal is being drastically reduced,” said Peskov.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Russia had taken steps to deal with the water supply issue in Crimea, he added. The Kremlin spokesperson also went on to say that this “sabotage is also connected with the fact that having started large-scale offensive actions two days ago”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moscow has also “decisively rejected” accusations by Kyiv and the West that Russian troops were behind a blast that caused damage to the dam. Meanwhile, the Russian-backed head of Crimea said there was no immediate threat to the peninsula’s water supply or flooding risk but warned of potential threats that the Northern Crimean Canal “will get more shallow,” said Sergei Aksyonov.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Completely destroyed’: What’s the damage at the dam?</strong></h2>

<p>Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that 17,000 people were being evacuated from flooded areas and more than 40,000 people are in danger of being flooded. He also warned that some 25,000 more people should be evacuated on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an interview, Igor Syrota, head of Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company said that the Nova Kakhovka dam had been “completely destroyed” and the station “cannot be restored,” reported AFP.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukrainian officials have reported that some 150 tonnes of engine oil spilt in the Dnipro River due to the attack it has blamed on Russia, while Zelensky said there was “a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons".</p>

<p>Speaking about the environmental impact, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the floods have caused “long and irreversible harm” to the ecosystems and reported that animals at the Nova Kakhovka Zoo have "already died in the rising water".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Europe’s largest ZNPP, which is currently under Russian control, was reported not to be under “immediate risk” by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
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The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid the ongoing conflict.

The Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine came under attack on Tuesday (June 6) amid the ongoing conflict. The partial destruction of the dam, as per both officials in Moscow and Kyiv has unleashed a torrent of water. Officials in Ukraine, hours after the damage, confirmed that some two dozen settlements had been flooded and at least 17,000 people have since been evacuated. The Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in southern Ukraine is home to the dam that both sides have accused each other of attacking. Kyiv has also called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting over what it has described as a “Russian terrorist act”. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dubbed the attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam as a “deliberate sabotage” by Ukraine. The UNSC has agreed to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam issue after both Moscow and Kyiv called for the meeting. About the Nova Kakhovka dam The Soviet-era dam, which is 98 feet tall and 3.2 kilometres long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River and holds significant amounts of water. The dam is a part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Russia-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. According to Reuters, the water that the dam can hold amounts to that of the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah which is approximately 18 cubic kilometres. It is also one of the six dams that sit along the Dnipro River and is often referred to as the Kakhovka Sea as one cannot see the other bank in certain places, reported BBC. The dam is also responsible for the water supply to southern Ukraine’s agricultural land, the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula and the Moscow-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). The reservoir also feeds the Soviet-era North Crimean Canal which supplies around 85 per cent of Crimea’s water. The dam’s reservoir also provides water essential for cooling the six reactors at the power plant. Additionally, farmers in the surrounding area also rely on the water from this dam to grow their crops and thousands are now set to face trouble in the region. Notably, Geneva Conventions explicitly bans targeting dams during wars, due to the dangers posed to civilians by the destruction of such “works and installations containing dangerous forces”. What happened at Nova Kakhovka dam? Russia and Ukraine have both blamed each other for the supposed attack which has led to massive damage to the dam's structure. Kyiv, which was reportedly the first one to report the damage to the Nova Kakhovka dam, blamed Russia. On the other hand, there have been conflicting reports from the Russia-installed officials. Images and videos from the scene show a massive breach in the dam with a large amount of water flowing downstream in the direction of the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Meanwhile, neither Kyiv nor Moscow have offered immediate public evidence to back up their claims. ‘Terrorist attack,’ ‘ecocide’: Ukraine about Nova Kakhovka dam incident Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused “Russian terrorists” of destroying the dam. He went on to allege that the Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station from the inside and must be held accountable for this “terrorist attack.” The Ukrainian president after an emergency meeting of senior officials said that the incident took place at around 2:50 am (local time) and an “internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP" occurred. "About 80 settlements are in the zone of flooding”. Zelensky also said that the “world must react,” adding, “This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime,” and went on to accuse Moscow of committing an act of “ecocide.” “Russia is at war with life, with nature, with civilisation. Russia must leave Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror,” said the Ukrainian president. A Ukrainian military spokesperson has also alleged that the dam was attacked to prevent Kyiv’s troops from crossing the Dnipro River to attack Russian troops occupying the area. The incident comes as Ukraine said Monday it was conducting “offensive action" on the front line amid speculation that the long-expected counteroffensive is underway. From no attack to ‘deliberate sabotage’: What did Russia say about the accusations? As per initial reports, a Russia-installed official in Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov said no attack had taken place and that the dam collapsed due to existing damage and the pressure of the water. It was not until later that the Kremlin spokesperson said that it was a Ukrainian attempt to stop the water supply to the Crimean peninsula which Russia had annexed back in 2014. “We can state unequivocally that we are talking about deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side,” said the Kremlin spokesperson. He added, “All responsibility lies with the Kyiv regime.” “Clearly one of the aims of this act of sabotage was to deprive Crimea of water - the water level in the reservoir is dropping and, accordingly, the water supply to the canal is being drastically reduced,” said Peskov. However, Russia had taken steps to deal with the water supply issue in Crimea, he added. The Kremlin spokesperson also went on to say that this “sabotage is also connected with the fact that having started large-scale offensive actions two days ago”. Moscow has also “decisively rejected” accusations by Kyiv and the West that Russian troops were behind a blast that caused damage to the dam. Meanwhile, the Russian-backed head of Crimea said there was no immediate threat to the peninsula’s water supply or flooding risk but warned of potential threats that the Northern Crimean Canal “will get more shallow,” said Sergei Aksyonov. ‘Completely destroyed’: What’s the damage at the dam? Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that 17,000 people were being evacuated from flooded areas and more than 40,000 people are in danger of being flooded. He also warned that some 25,000 more people should be evacuated on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River. In an interview, Igor Syrota, head of Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company said that the Nova Kakhovka dam had been “completely destroyed” and the station “cannot be restored,” reported AFP. Ukrainian officials have reported that some 150 tonnes of engine oil spilt in the Dnipro River due to the attack it has blamed on Russia, while Zelensky said there was “a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons". Speaking about the environmental impact, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the floods have caused “long and irreversible harm” to the ecosystems and reported that animals at the Nova Kakhovka Zoo have "already died in the rising water". Europe’s largest ZNPP, which is currently under Russian control, was reported not to be under “immediate risk” by the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine

In a rare acknowledgment of losses, Russia says 71 of its soldiers were killed while thwarting a Ukrainian counter-offensive. The admission came from none other than the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Russian Defense Ministry also released a video of the incident where tanks could be seen coming under attack from aerial positions.

Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses | Russia-Ukraine war updates

<p>Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday said that the Kakhovka dam explosion was "one of the most significant environmental catastrophes in Europe in recent decades".</p>

<p>While speaking at the OECD in Paris via video link, Shmyhal said "dozens of towns and villages will struggle with potable (drinking) water supply".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He further added that the attack would also "affect irrigation systems in southern Ukraine, leading to drought and crop failures. This strikes at the heart of global food security".</p>

<p>"The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant meant at least 150 tonnes of machine oil has leaked into the (Dnipro) river with the risk of an additional 300 tonnes seeping out. This poses a threat to the unique flora and fauna," he said.</p>

<p>He called the act a "crime against humanity and an ecocide. Therefore Russia must face a powerful and unified response, not mere words".</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/was-the-ukraine-dam-partially-damaged-days-before-it-collapsed-satellite-images-show-detailed-insights-601745">Was the Ukraine dam partially damaged days before it collapsed? Satellite images show detailed insights</a></p>

<p>Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia for exploding an "environmental bomb of mass destruction", saying that the authorities expected up to 80 settlements to be flooded and called&nbsp;for the world to "react".</p>

<h2><strong>People forced to spend the night on roofs, trees due to flooding</strong></h2>

<p>The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine caused people awaiting rescue in affected areas to spend Tuesday night (June 6) on roofs or trees due to flooding.</p>

<p>Satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies showed houses and buildings submerged, with&nbsp;only&nbsp;roofs visible, and water taking over parks, land and infrastructure. And many such people slept on roofs and sat on trees, waiting to be rescued, the news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Ukrainian government estimated that around 42,000 people are at direct risk from flooding which is expected to peak on Wednesday, and hundreds and thousands would be left without access to drinking water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, the agriculture ministry said the disaster would cut off the water supply to 31 irrigation systems in the Ukrainian regions of Dnipro. The dam's destruction has left 94 per cent&nbsp;of irrigation systems in Kherson, 74 per cent&nbsp;of those in Zaporizhzhia, and 30 per cent&nbsp;in Dnipro regions without water, the ministry added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Residents in affected areas have started fleeing, carrying children on their shoulders, dogs in their arms, and belongings in plastic bags while rescuers used rubber boats to search areas where the waters reached above head height.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday said that the Kakhovka dam explosion was "one of the most significant environmental catastrophes in Europe in recent decades".

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Wednesday said that the Kakhovka dam explosion was "one of the most significant environmental catastrophes in Europe in recent decades". While speaking at the OECD in Paris via video link, Shmyhal said "dozens of towns and villages will struggle with potable (drinking) water supply". He further added that the attack would also "affect irrigation systems in southern Ukraine, leading to drought and crop failures. This strikes at the heart of global food security". "The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant meant at least 150 tonnes of machine oil has leaked into the (Dnipro) river with the risk of an additional 300 tonnes seeping out. This poses a threat to the unique flora and fauna," he said. He called the act a "crime against humanity and an ecocide. Therefore Russia must face a powerful and unified response, not mere words". Also read: Was the Ukraine dam partially damaged days before it collapsed? Satellite images show detailed insights Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia for exploding an "environmental bomb of mass destruction", saying that the authorities expected up to 80 settlements to be flooded and called for the world to "react". People forced to spend the night on roofs, trees due to flooding The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine caused people awaiting rescue in affected areas to spend Tuesday night (June 6) on roofs or trees due to flooding. Satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies showed houses and buildings submerged, with only roofs visible, and water taking over parks, land and infrastructure. And many such people slept on roofs and sat on trees, waiting to be rescued, the news agency Reuters reported. The Ukrainian government estimated that around 42,000 people are at direct risk from flooding which is expected to peak on Wednesday, and hundreds and thousands would be left without access to drinking water. In a statement, the agriculture ministry said the disaster would cut off the water supply to 31 irrigation systems in the Ukrainian regions of Dnipro. The dam's destruction has left 94 per cent of irrigation systems in Kherson, 74 per cent of those in Zaporizhzhia, and 30 per cent in Dnipro regions without water, the ministry added. Residents in affected areas have started fleeing, carrying children on their shoulders, dogs in their arms, and belongings in plastic bags while rescuers used rubber boats to search areas where the waters reached above head height. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal calls Kakhovka dam destruction 'environmental catastrophe'

<p>The White House said on Tuesday (June 6) that it cannot ‘conclusively’ say what was behind the destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine. However, White House Spokesman John Kirby said that reports that the blast was caused by Russia were being assessed. Russia has been in occupation of the dam since last year.</p>

<p>Kirby noted that the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River may likely have caused "many deaths" and evacuation of thousands of Ukrainians. Dnipro River separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses</strong>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Kirby told reporters the damage could have a devastating impact on Ukraine's energy security.</p>

<p>"We've seen the reports that Russia was responsible for the explosion at the dam," he said. "We're doing the best we can to assess those reports, and we are working with the Ukrainians to gather more information, but we cannot say conclusively what happened."</p>

<p>Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has claimed that it was Ukraine that sabotaged the dam.</p>

<p>Kyiv said the destruction of the dam — seized by Russia in the early hours of the war — was an attempt by Moscow to hamper its long-awaited offensive, which Ukraine's leader stressed would not be affected.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-ukraine-war-nova-kakhovka-dam-attack-what-we-know-so-far-601391">Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine</a></strong></p>

<p>Kirby opined that it was too soon to discuss the effect of the development on Ukraine's long-planned counteroffensive. He did stress that Russian forces were in illegal occupation of the dam and were in control of it when the blast took place. However, Kirby said that US officials had not determined whether the blast was an intentional act.</p>

<h2><strong>Destruction of dam a war crime?</strong></h2>

<p>Asked if the destruction of the dam would constitute a war crime, Kirby said international law forbade the destruction of civilian infrastructure.</p>

<p>He said US officials would continue to work with humanitarian partners on the ground to supply aid to those affected.</p>

<p>Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24 last year. After sustained territorial gains in the first few months of the war, the Russian forces had to retreat in the face of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Large swathes of land were won back by Ukrainian forces. As much as the credit goes to the fortitude of the Ukrainian military, the massive international help has been seen as a major factor that affected the situation on the battlefield.</p>

<p>Western countries, led by the United States, have poured in millions and millions in humanitarian as well as military help. This has boosted the military capacity of Ukraine.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The White House said on Tuesday (June 6) that it cannot ‘conclusively’ say what was behind the destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine. However, White House Spokesman John Kirby said that reports that the blast was caused by Russia were being assessed.

The White House said on Tuesday (June 6) that it cannot ‘conclusively’ say what was behind the destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine. However, White House Spokesman John Kirby said that reports that the blast was caused by Russia were being assessed. Russia has been in occupation of the dam since last year. Kirby noted that the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River may likely have caused "many deaths" and evacuation of thousands of Ukrainians. Dnipro River separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine. Watch | Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses × Kirby told reporters the damage could have a devastating impact on Ukraine's energy security. "We've seen the reports that Russia was responsible for the explosion at the dam," he said. "We're doing the best we can to assess those reports, and we are working with the Ukrainians to gather more information, but we cannot say conclusively what happened." Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has claimed that it was Ukraine that sabotaged the dam. Kyiv said the destruction of the dam — seized by Russia in the early hours of the war — was an attempt by Moscow to hamper its long-awaited offensive, which Ukraine's leader stressed would not be affected. Also Read | Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine Kirby opined that it was too soon to discuss the effect of the development on Ukraine's long-planned counteroffensive. He did stress that Russian forces were in illegal occupation of the dam and were in control of it when the blast took place. However, Kirby said that US officials had not determined whether the blast was an intentional act. Destruction of dam a war crime? Asked if the destruction of the dam would constitute a war crime, Kirby said international law forbade the destruction of civilian infrastructure. He said US officials would continue to work with humanitarian partners on the ground to supply aid to those affected. Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24 last year. After sustained territorial gains in the first few months of the war, the Russian forces had to retreat in the face of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Large swathes of land were won back by Ukrainian forces. As much as the credit goes to the fortitude of the Ukrainian military, the massive international help has been seen as a major factor that affected the situation on the battlefield. Western countries, led by the United States, have poured in millions and millions in humanitarian as well as military help. This has boosted the military capacity of Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ukraine dam explosion: US not sure but possibility of Russian role being assessed

A key dam in Kherson, on the banks of the Dnipro river. That's the latest casualty in the Russia-Ukraine war. The dam was blown up less than 24 hours ago and this has sent a torrent of floodwaters into the warzone. Here is a complete breakdown of the breach that has opened the floodgates of suffering and blame game.

Kherson dam explosion opens floodgates of blame game between Russia & Ukraine

Ukrainians abandoned inundated homes as floodwaters crested across a swathe of the south on Wednesday after the destruction of a vast hydro-electric dam on the front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces that each blamed on the other.

Ukrainians face homelessness, disease as floodwaters crest from destroyed dam

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Ukraine called on an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss Kherson dam destruction.

Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv calls on UNSC to discuss Kherson dam destruction | WION Speed News

<p>Kyiv called Russia a “terrorist state,” on Tuesday (June 6), at the top United Nations court at the hearing of Moscow’s alleged backing of pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine which killed nearly 300 people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hearing about the 2014 case also came amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and hours after the attack on the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine with both Moscow and Kyiv blaming&nbsp;each other.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What was the hearing about?</strong></h2>

<p>Notably, the hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was the first time where Russian and Ukrainian lawyers faced each other since the beginning of what Moscow has called its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The case was filed by Kyiv in 2017 at the World Court against the&nbsp;Moscow-backed rebels and accused Russia of violating the UN anti-terrorism treaty. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The legal teams from both countries comprised&nbsp;dozens of representatives but on Tuesday only Ukraine presented arguments before a panel of 16 judges at the ICJ.&nbsp;Russia will get the opportunity to respond on Thursday. Ukraine will then respond on June 12 and Russia will present again two days later.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Kyiv, Moscow violated the UN conventions for financing terrorism and racial discrimination as it allegedly equipped and funded pro-Russian forces who shot down the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane&nbsp;was reportedly shot down by a Russian-made missile in July. Moscow&nbsp;has since denied these allegations. There was also violence that&nbsp;took place in 2014 in Ukraine when at least 13,000 people were killed when pro-European Union protesters overthrew Kyiv’s Moscow-allied government. It was not soon after that Russia had forcibly annexed Crimea.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ukrainian representatives call Russia ‘terrorist state’</strong></h2>

<p>In his opening remarks, Ukrainian Ambassador-at-Large Anton Korynevych spoke about the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam which Kyiv has blamed Moscow for. “Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission,” said the Ukrainian diplomat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Russia’s actions are the actions of a terrorist state, an aggressor. But such actions did not appear out of the blue. They are the tragic but logical outcome of the situation we brought to this court’s attention back in 2017,”&nbsp;he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Ukrainian diplomat reiterating statements from officials in Kyiv, said, “Just today, Russia blew up a major dam…causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”</p>

<p>Ukraine has also called on the Hague-based court to order Russia to stop discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea. Korynevych also said that Russia’s “contempt for international law didn't start in 2022” but when it annexed Crimea in 2014, adding that Moscow then “engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Russia is now “trying to wipe us from the map” with the ongoing invasion, said the Ukrainian lawyer. Moscow&nbsp;has denied the claims of systematic human rights abuses in the Ukrainian territory that it controls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Ukrainian lawyers also spoke about the Dutch court verdict in November that convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17 and their role. The court also found Russia had “overall control” over the separatist forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukrainian lawyers said that the Russian officials were “guilty of terrorism financing” as they supplied the missile knowing it would be used to shoot down an aircraft. Ukrainian lawyer Marney Cheek also said how Moscow also supplied rebels with rocket systems that were used in a “reign of terror” on civilians in 2015.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“What did Russia do to prevent and suppress this financing of terrorism? Nothing,” the lawyer added.<br />
<br />
Notably, Russia has previously tried to get the case filed by Ukraine&nbsp;thrown out saying that the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not have jurisdiction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2022, after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv filed a separate case which accused Moscow of planning genocide. This led the ICJ to order a suspension of the invasion. The ICC also issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, on war crimes over forced deportations of Ukrainian children.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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Kyiv called Russia a “terrorist state,” on Tuesday (June 6), at the top United Nations court at the hearing of Moscow’s alleged backing of pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine which killed nearly 300 people.

Kyiv called Russia a “terrorist state,” on Tuesday (June 6), at the top United Nations court at the hearing of Moscow’s alleged backing of pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down an aircraft in 2014 over Ukraine which killed nearly 300 people. The hearing about the 2014 case also came amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries and hours after the attack on the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the Russia-occupied part of southern Ukraine with both Moscow and Kyiv blaming each other. What was the hearing about? Notably, the hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was the first time where Russian and Ukrainian lawyers faced each other since the beginning of what Moscow has called its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The case was filed by Kyiv in 2017 at the World Court against the Moscow-backed rebels and accused Russia of violating the UN anti-terrorism treaty. The legal teams from both countries comprised dozens of representatives but on Tuesday only Ukraine presented arguments before a panel of 16 judges at the ICJ. Russia will get the opportunity to respond on Thursday. Ukraine will then respond on June 12 and Russia will present again two days later. According to Kyiv, Moscow violated the UN conventions for financing terrorism and racial discrimination as it allegedly equipped and funded pro-Russian forces who shot down the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine killing all 298 passengers and crew on board. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane was reportedly shot down by a Russian-made missile in July. Moscow has since denied these allegations. There was also violence that took place in 2014 in Ukraine when at least 13,000 people were killed when pro-European Union protesters overthrew Kyiv’s Moscow-allied government. It was not soon after that Russia had forcibly annexed Crimea. Ukrainian representatives call Russia ‘terrorist state’ In his opening remarks, Ukrainian Ambassador-at-Large Anton Korynevych spoke about the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam which Kyiv has blamed Moscow for. “Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission,” said the Ukrainian diplomat. “Russia’s actions are the actions of a terrorist state, an aggressor. But such actions did not appear out of the blue. They are the tragic but logical outcome of the situation we brought to this court’s attention back in 2017,” he added. The Ukrainian diplomat reiterating statements from officials in Kyiv, said, “Just today, Russia blew up a major dam…causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.” Ukraine has also called on the Hague-based court to order Russia to stop discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea. Korynevych also said that Russia’s “contempt for international law didn't start in 2022” but when it annexed Crimea in 2014, adding that Moscow then “engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.” However, Russia is now “trying to wipe us from the map” with the ongoing invasion, said the Ukrainian lawyer. Moscow has denied the claims of systematic human rights abuses in the Ukrainian territory that it controls. The Ukrainian lawyers also spoke about the Dutch court verdict in November that convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17 and their role. The court also found Russia had “overall control” over the separatist forces. Ukrainian lawyers said that the Russian officials were “guilty of terrorism financing” as they supplied the missile knowing it would be used to shoot down an aircraft. Ukrainian lawyer Marney Cheek also said how Moscow also supplied rebels with rocket systems that were used in a “reign of terror” on civilians in 2015. “What did Russia do to prevent and suppress this financing of terrorism? Nothing,” the lawyer added. Notably, Russia has previously tried to get the case filed by Ukraine thrown out saying that the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not have jurisdiction. In 2022, after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv filed a separate case which accused Moscow of planning genocide. This led the ICJ to order a suspension of the invasion. The ICC also issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, on war crimes over forced deportations of Ukrainian children. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Terrorist state’: Ukraine slams Russia at International Court of Justice hearing

<p>The US knew of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipelines as early as three months before underwater explosions damaged them, claimed the Washington Post in a report. The news outlet cited leaked information posted online. The report said that America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) learned in June last year that a Ukrainian special operations force consisting of six people intended to blow up the pipelines.</p>

<p>Nord Stream pipelines carry natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the pipelines and the subsequent explosions had assumed great political importance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The intelligence cited by the Washington Post was reportedly shared on chat platform Discord, allegedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was arrested for the leak of classified documents.</p>

<p>Teixeira was recently charged for leaking sensitive US documents. The Post said that it got a copy from one of Teixeira's online friends. The intelligence report was based on information obtained from an individual in Ukraine. The newspaper said that the CIA shared it with Germany and other European countries in June 2022.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses</strong></p>

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<p>The Post said officials in multiple countries had confirmed that the intelligence summary posted on Discord accurately stated what the European service told the CIA.</p>

<p>The report in the Washington Post said that the newspaper was withholding the name of the European intelligence agency as well as some aspects of the alleged plan after a request from government officials.</p>

<p>Reuters said that the CIA and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines were ruptured after several undersea explosions took place last year in September. The explosions occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-ukraine-war-nova-kakhovka-dam-attack-what-we-know-so-far-601391">Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine</a></strong></p>

<p>Both nations have said that the explosions were deliberate. However, it is yet to be clearly determined who was responsible. The two countries are investigating the incident along with Germany.</p>

<h2><strong>The situation last year</strong></h2>

<p>Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. As the Western countries led by the US imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia, the latter responded by leveraging its position as the major energy supplier of Europe. Russia even halted energy supplies, partially in some cases, which sent fuel prices skywards globally. It was feared that Europe and particularly Ukraine would face extremely harsh conditions due to energy shortage and approaching winter in the latter part of the year.</p>

<p>The explosions rupturing Nord Stream pipelines hence came into quick international focus and both sides accused the other of doing the deed in order to play politics over it.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The US knew of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipelines as early as three months before underwater explosions damaged them, claimed the Washington Post in a report.

The US knew of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipelines as early as three months before underwater explosions damaged them, claimed the Washington Post in a report. The news outlet cited leaked information posted online. The report said that America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) learned in June last year that a Ukrainian special operations force consisting of six people intended to blow up the pipelines. Nord Stream pipelines carry natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the pipelines and the subsequent explosions had assumed great political importance. The intelligence cited by the Washington Post was reportedly shared on chat platform Discord, allegedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was arrested for the leak of classified documents. Teixeira was recently charged for leaking sensitive US documents. The Post said that it got a copy from one of Teixeira's online friends. The intelligence report was based on information obtained from an individual in Ukraine. The newspaper said that the CIA shared it with Germany and other European countries in June 2022. Watch | Russia's rare acknowledgment of losses × The Post said officials in multiple countries had confirmed that the intelligence summary posted on Discord accurately stated what the European service told the CIA. The report in the Washington Post said that the newspaper was withholding the name of the European intelligence agency as well as some aspects of the alleged plan after a request from government officials. Reuters said that the CIA and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines were ruptured after several undersea explosions took place last year in September. The explosions occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Also Read | Explained | What we know so far about the Nova Kakhovka dam attack in Ukraine Both nations have said that the explosions were deliberate. However, it is yet to be clearly determined who was responsible. The two countries are investigating the incident along with Germany. The situation last year Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. As the Western countries led by the US imposed harsh economic sanctions on Russia, the latter responded by leveraging its position as the major energy supplier of Europe. Russia even halted energy supplies, partially in some cases, which sent fuel prices skywards globally. It was feared that Europe and particularly Ukraine would face extremely harsh conditions due to energy shortage and approaching winter in the latter part of the year. The explosions rupturing Nord Stream pipelines hence came into quick international focus and both sides accused the other of doing the deed in order to play politics over it. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US knew of Ukrainian plan to blow up Nord Stream three months before blasts: Report

Months after launching an investigation, the world still does not have a concrete answer to the question - Who was behind the Nord Stream blast? But a Washington Post now claimed that the attack was carried out by a group of special Ukrainian servicemen.

US intelligence CIA was aware months before blasts, says report

As per reports, the Biden administration received an intelligence report that Ukraine had a plan for an attack on the Nord Stream pipelines three months before an underwater explosion disabled the natural gas link from Russia to Germany.

Another example of price of war on people: United Nations | WION Newspoint

A key dam in Kherson, on the banks of the Dnipro river. That's the latest casualty in the Russia-Ukraine war. The dam was blown up less than 24 hours ago and this has sent a torrent of floodwaters into the warzone. Here is a complete breakdown of the breach that has opened the floodgates of suffering and blame game. The dam explosion has transformed the front lines. It comes just as Ukraine gets ready to launch a long-awaited counteroffensive to drive Russian troops from its territory.

Dam blast triggers blame game at UNSC meet | Russia-Ukraine war updates

Thousands of people are being evacuated downstream of a major dam which has collapsed in Russian-held Ukraine.

Kakhovka damage sparks flooding, evacuations

Kakhovka dam explosion: When water was used as a weapon of destruction

Ukraine's fifth largest dam- The Kakhovka dam has been blown up. It used to provide water to cool the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. With the dam now lying damaged, has the risk of a nuclear disaster reached an unprecedented level?

Gravitas | Ukraine's Kakhovka Dam Blown Up: Will it trigger a nuclear disaster?

A man armed with four handguns killed at least two people & wounded others when he fired into a crowd outside a high school ceremony in Virginia. Police said they arrested one suspect, a 19-year-old man who knew one of the victims & shot at him. The crowd had just emerged from a high school ceremony inside a theatre on the campus of Virginia commonwealth university.

Two dead in Virginia mass shooting | Russia-Ukraine blame game erupts after blast

Ukraine's much-awaited counter-offensive has apparently begun but Russia claims to have thwarted it for now. Then there were reports of disunity in the Russian lines with Russia's Wagner group claiming to hold a Russian soldier captive on the other hand hundreds of civilians continue to flee Russia's Belgorod region.

Ukraine claims gain around Bakhmut | Russia-Ukraine war

Volodymyr Zelensky has praised Ukrainian troops for advances claimed near the devastated city of Bakhmut. On the other hand, Russia says it repelled a large-scale attack. The contrasting claims come at a time as Pope Francis's peace envoy arrived in Kyiv for two days of talks. Remember, in May, Russia said it seized the now-destroyed eastern Ukrainian city, the scene of the longest and one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine claims advances near Bakhmut, Moscow says 'Large-scale attack repelled'

Hundreds of people were evacuated from settlements along the southern stretch of Ukraine's Dnipro River on Tuesday after water burst through the breached Nova Kakhovka dam, submerging streets, and town squares. Looking downstream, Russia controls the left bank of the Dnipro and the dam itself, and Ukraine holds the right bank. Each side has blamed the other for causing the damage that triggered the latest crisis in the conflict. Water has been used as a weapon in the war for a long. Is the same strategy at play in Ukraine?

An age-old war tactic at play behind Ukraine dam breach? Dynamics of using water as a weapon in war

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Millions of litres of water burst through a gaping hole in a Russian-controlled dam on Tuesday, flooding a swathe of the war zone in southern Ukraine, threatening scores of villages and cutting off water supplies.

Major dam breached in Southern Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine war updates

<p>The European Union, on Tuesday, while reacting to the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, condemned Russia for taking its aggression against Ukraine to a new level and for targeting civilians in the country.</p>

<p>"The destruction of the Kakhovka dam brings the targeting of civilian infrastructure and civilians in Ukraine to an unprecedented new level. And of course, the European Union condemns strongly this horrific and barbaric attack," Commission spokesperson Peter Stano told a news conference.</p>

<p>Ukraine and its Western allies condemned Russia for destroying the dam, calling it&nbsp;an intentional war crime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russian forces of destroying the dam saying that Russia had controlled the dam and hydroelectric plant for over a year.</p>

<p>"Tonight, they blew up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station. At 02:50, the explosion happened. It was an absolutely deliberate, prepared explosion," Zelensky said at&nbsp;the Bucharest Nine Meeting.</p>

<p>"It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside - with shelling. It was mined. It was mined by the Russian occupiers and blown up by them," he said.</p>

<p>However, Kremlin released a statement saying that Ukraine was the one that blew up the dam to divert attention from a counterattack Moscow asserts is sputtering.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-ukraine-war-documented-in-iconic-pictures-561861">The Russia-Ukraine war documented in iconic pictures</a></p>

<p>Some Russia-installed officials said that the dam burst on its own.</p>

<p>EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell in a written statement said that the explosion put the lives of civilians at risk and is affecting access to cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (ZNPP).</p>

<h2><strong>Destruction triggers evacuation&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>A vast Soviet-era dam in the Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine was destroyed on Tuesday. According to both the Ukrainian and the Russian forces, the destruction has unleashed a flood across the war zone. The destruction of the major dam has flooded nearby regions, prompting Ukraine to evacuate 16,000 residents from the "critical zone".</p>

<p>Unverified visuals on social media show the reservoir "emptying into the Dnipro" river after a series of intense explosions around the Kakhovka Dam. Other videos show water surging through the remains of the dam, with bystanders expressing their shock, sometimes in strong language.</p>

<p>As per a report by Russia's TASS agency citing Moscow-backed officials in the Zaporizhzhia region, there was no "critical danger" to the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia facility.</p>

<h2><strong>Significance of Nova Kakhovka dam</strong></h2>

<p>The dam, which is 30 metres tall and 3.2 kilometres (around two miles) long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River.</p>

<p>It holds significant amounts of water. As per Reuters, it holds water equivalent to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah.</p>

<p>The Nova Kakhovka Dam supplies water to Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014 and to Europe's largest nuclear plant, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The European Union, on Tuesday, while reacting to the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, condemned Russia for taking its aggression against Ukraine to a new level and for targeting civilians in the country.

The European Union, on Tuesday, while reacting to the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, condemned Russia for taking its aggression against Ukraine to a new level and for targeting civilians in the country. "The destruction of the Kakhovka dam brings the targeting of civilian infrastructure and civilians in Ukraine to an unprecedented new level. And of course, the European Union condemns strongly this horrific and barbaric attack," Commission spokesperson Peter Stano told a news conference. Ukraine and its Western allies condemned Russia for destroying the dam, calling it an intentional war crime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russian forces of destroying the dam saying that Russia had controlled the dam and hydroelectric plant for over a year. "Tonight, they blew up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station. At 02:50, the explosion happened. It was an absolutely deliberate, prepared explosion," Zelensky said at the Bucharest Nine Meeting. "It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside - with shelling. It was mined. It was mined by the Russian occupiers and blown up by them," he said. However, Kremlin released a statement saying that Ukraine was the one that blew up the dam to divert attention from a counterattack Moscow asserts is sputtering. Also read: The Russia-Ukraine war documented in iconic pictures Some Russia-installed officials said that the dam burst on its own. EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell in a written statement said that the explosion put the lives of civilians at risk and is affecting access to cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (ZNPP). Destruction triggers evacuation A vast Soviet-era dam in the Russian-controlled part of southern Ukraine was destroyed on Tuesday. According to both the Ukrainian and the Russian forces, the destruction has unleashed a flood across the war zone. The destruction of the major dam has flooded nearby regions, prompting Ukraine to evacuate 16,000 residents from the "critical zone". Unverified visuals on social media show the reservoir "emptying into the Dnipro" river after a series of intense explosions around the Kakhovka Dam. Other videos show water surging through the remains of the dam, with bystanders expressing their shock, sometimes in strong language. As per a report by Russia's TASS agency citing Moscow-backed officials in the Zaporizhzhia region, there was no "critical danger" to the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia facility. Significance of Nova Kakhovka dam The dam, which is 30 metres tall and 3.2 kilometres (around two miles) long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro River. It holds significant amounts of water. As per Reuters, it holds water equivalent to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah. The Nova Kakhovka Dam supplies water to Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014 and to Europe's largest nuclear plant, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

European Union reacts to Ukraine dam blast, condemns Russia for 'taking aggression to new level'

The nature of the Ukraine war has undergone some dramatic changes. As part of its strategy to fight back , Ukraine is doing the one thing that the West had been squeamish about. There has been a spate of cross-border, ground and drone attacks deep inside the Russian territory. Ukraine appears to be implementing the old adage: that the best defense is a good offense. So how successful has Kyiv been in pushing back the Russian forces? And how is Russia planning to blunt the Ukrainian counteroffensive, with the use of Western weapons? Mohammed Saleh explores.

Ukraine's counteroffensive takes the battle inside Russia | World at War

Ukraine’s military said Russian forces have blown up a key dam in southern Ukraine, while the Moscow-installed official in the city of Nova Kakhovka in the Russian-controlled portion of the country’s Kherson region blamed the dam’s destruction on Ukrainian shelling.

Ukraine says Russian forces blew up Nova Kakhovka dam in Kherson

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of blowing up key Dam in Kherson

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