Updated! Urgent evacuation begins in Kherson region - dam of Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant blown up

Urgent evacuation of the areas that fall within the flood zone on the Dnipro coast has begun in the liberated territory of Kherson region. The evacuation has already begun from the areas of Kherson city and villages where flooding is taking place.

According to the South Command, the Russian occupation forces blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

Units of the National Police and the State Emergency Service of Kherson Oblast have been alerted to warn and evacuate civilians from potential flood zones on the right bank of the Dnipro River, namely the villages of Mykolayivka, Olhivka, Lovo, Tyahynka, Ponyativka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka, Ponyativka, Prydniprovske, Sadove, and part of the city of Kherson - Korabel Island.

The water level is rising and everyone in the danger zone should

- turn off all electrical appliances;

- take documents and essentials;

- take care of loved ones and pets;

- follow the instructions of rescuers and police.

According to Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of Kherson Regional Water Administration, all services are working. The water level will become critical in Kherson in about five hours.

He urged residents of the areas to be evacuated not to panic and to follow the instructions. He also urged residents of the left bank to save their lives.

The instruction was created by the Kherson MVA.

7:25 - updated

Ukraine warned that the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was mined by racists back in October last year. Thus, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the European Council with a warning about the situation at the hydroelectric power plant.

The situation at the Kakhovka HPP. Screenshot from Ukrinform website

7:45 - updated

President Zelenskyy has decided to hold an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council in connection with the explosion of the Kakhovka reservoir dam, Danilov said.

At the same time, the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir is falling rapidly, about 15 cm per hour," reports Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of the Nikopol district administration.

7:55 - updated

The head of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Vitaliy Kim reports that according to the State Emergency Service, there will be no flooding of the Kinburn Spit, but it could (theoretically) flood the road and temporarily turn the peninsula into an island.

8:00 - updated

The Korabel neighborhood in Kherson is without electricity and in a few hours the gas supply will be cut off for security reasons," said Roman Mrochko.

8:30 - updated

Andriy Yermak: Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Another war crime of Russian terrorists. The President is convening the National Security and Defense Council.

This is ecocide.

The Russians will be responsible for the possible deprivation of drinking water for people in the south of Kherson region and in Crimea, the possible destruction of some settlements and the biosphere.

Their actions also pose a threat to the ZNPP.

The authorities are working, both central and regional. The safety of people is a priority today.

We must ensure that the enemy is punished at the international level.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Russian terrorists, by destroying the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam, only confirm for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Only Ukraine's victory will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else.

All services are working. I have convened the National Security and Defense Council. Please spread only official and verified information.

About 16 thousand people are in the critical zone on the right bank of the Dnipro river, - Prokudin.

9:00 - updated

In Kherson, on the island, police officers and public utilities are properly performing their duties. Evacuation by buses is going according to plan and without panic," reports Roman Mrochko.

Russian Federation destroyed the Kakhovka dam, causing perhaps the largest technological disaster in Europe in decades and endangering the lives of thousands of civilians, - Dmytro Kuleba.

Володимир Шкаєв