[News] Ukraine-Russia war latest: Warning of 'grave consequences' after dam blast as flooded city comes under shelling attack

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Thousands are fleeing floods caused by a breach in a dam in Russian-occupied Ukraine. The UN aid chief warned of "grave and far-reaching consequences" for people in southern Ukraine - as both sides continue to blame each other.

In Kherson city, our special correspondent Alex Crawford has been witnessing a rescue operation after severe flooding hit the area overnight. 

The city is around about 60 km (37 miles) downstream from the collapsed Kakhovka dam and is one of many that has seen its streets become inundated with water. 

"The rescue operation is at full pelt in Kherson city in south Ukraine after residents woke to find the waters had risen by about four to five feet in places," Crawford said. 

"There are a lot more troops here plus volunteers and rescue services bringing boats to help out. 

"We saw at least two people in wheelchairs being lifted out of the rescue boats.

"They're going in and picking out mainly elderly or vulnerable people. 

"We could walk down this street yesterday. Now you can't get down it unless you are in a boat." 

She explained that people who live in the second and third floors of buildings have woken up this morning to find the water has risen that high. 

"There's a bit of pace going on now to try to reach them as quickly as possible and bring them all out," she said.

The attack on the Kakhovka dam has created a "very big humanitarian catastrophe" and shows an attempt by Russia to use a weapon of mass destruction, the co-founder of an organisation calling for Ukrainian victory has said.

The collapsed dam, which is in Russian-occupied Kherson, has caused severe flooding in several areas along the Dnipro river, and thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes. 

Speaking to Sky News, Olena Halushka said the situation was "very critical" and water levels were going to keep rising for the next few days. 

Evacuations have been taking place by Ukrainian authorities in the affected towns and cities, but Ms Halushka said Russia was failing to do the same in occupied areas.

"The evacuation we know is not happening from the Russian-occupied parts because the occupation administration simply do not care," she said. 

Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the blast, with US intelligence suggesting Moscow is the culprit. 

Asked why Russia would attack the dam, Ms Halushka said: "If they understand that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is coming they would want to try to stop it by all the means. 

"If they are going to retreat, they will simply leave behind destroyed earth." 

She added: "The Russians did this to the dam and they definitely tried to stop the counteroffensive by doing that, but I don't think they will be successful."

"This is the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction." 

As you know by now, a huge dam in the Russian-occupied Kherson region was severely damaged yesterday, causing fierce flooding and thousands of people to leave their homes. 

The satellite images below taken show the extent of the flooding in towns and villages along the Dnipro river so far.

Around 42,000 people are at risk from flooding in areas along the Dnipro River after the Kakhovka dam collapse yesterday, Ukrainian officials have said. 

Their estimate came as the UN aid chief warned of "grave and far-reaching consequences" for people in southern Ukraine as a result of the breach. 

Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that the destruction could cause people to lose their "homes, food, safe water and livelihoods". 

"The sheer magnitude of the catastrophe will only become fully realised in the coming days," he said.

No deaths were initially reported, but US spokesperson John Kirby said the flooding had probably caused "many deaths".

Ukrainian officials said they expect flooding to peak today. 

Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the collapse of the massive dam, which sent floodwaters across a swathe of Ukraine's war zone and forced thousands to flee.

US intelligence suggested Russia was behind the blast. 

In Kherson city, about 60 km (37 miles) downstream from the dam, water levels rose by 3.5m (11.5ft) yesterday, forcing residents to slog through water up to their knees to evacuate. 

At least one person has been killed and another injured in a Russian shelling attack on the Kherson, the Ukrainian governor of the region has said. 

The attack came as thousands of people across the southern region fled their homes to avoid flooding caused by the destruction of a major dam in Nova Kakhovka yesterday. 

A total of 29 shells were fired in the city of Kherson, Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram. 

It would be a "new low" for Russia if Vladimir Putin's forces are found to be responsible for the attack on a Ukrainian dam which has led to widespread flooding, according to Rishi Sunak.

The prime minister was speaking to the press aboard a flight to the United States as he prepares to meet with US President Joe Biden for the fourth time in four months.

US intelligence is "leaning towards" Moscow being behind the damage to the Kakhovka dam in the Kherson region of Ukraine, according to NBC.

Russian media reported that half of the dam's 3.2km span have been destroyed, and that 22,000 people in the Kherson region have been impacted so far.

Mr Sunak was asked what UK intelligence says, and whether attacks on critical infrastructure should be treated in the same way as using weapons of mass destruction.

He said: "Our military and intelligence agencies are currently looking at it - it's too soon to pre-empt that and make a definitive judgement.

"But what I can say is if it's intentional, it would represent, I think, the largest attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine since the start of the war, and just demonstrates the new lows that we would have seen from Russian aggression.

"Attacks on civilian infrastructure are appalling and wrong.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-war-latest-dam-flood-counteroffensive-wagner-putin-12541713