UK 'VOWS TO RESPOND' AFTER RUSSIA BLOWS UP UKRAINE DAM WASHING AWAY POWER STATION
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly reacted to the news of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in the Kherson region. The UK minister, who is currently visiting Ukraine, released a strongly-worded statement on Twitter, saying: "The destruction of Kakhovka dam is an abhorrent act." The Foreign Secretary renewed the UK's support for Ukraine, shown since Russian troops launched a full-scale invasion of the country in February last year, and vowed to remain by Kyiv's side.
He said: "Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime. The UK stands ready to support Ukraine and those affected by this catastrophe."
Separately, Mr Cleverly openly blamed Russia for the disaster at the power plant, as he said: "I've heard reports of the explosion on the dam and the risk of flooding. It's too early to make any kind of meaningful assessment of the details.
"But it's worth remembering that the only reason this is an issue at all is because of Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
Mr Cleverly hasn't been the only high-profile politician to call this attack a "war crime".
Charles Michel, the current President of the European Council, tweeted earlier today: "Shocked by the unprecedented attack of the Nova Kakhovka dam.
"The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime - and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable."
Similarly, Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, also spoke of a "war crime" and said the "terrorist state Russia has now turned water into a weapon".
She added on Twitter: "#NovaKakhovka dam is a war crime affecting countless civilians and bringing ecocide and mass destruction. We must stop this cycle of aggression by helping Ukraine to victory and delivering full accountability."
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While the Western world is blaming Russia for explosions at the key dam, which provoked the destruction of the site and caused water to flood the surrounding region, the Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontiev, claimed Ukraine was responsible for the damage - albeit without providing any evidence supporting this allegation.
People in Russian settlements are also being impacted by the disaster, with the mayor saying his town had been disconnected from power supplies for safety reasons and about 300 houses had been evacuated.
Andrey Alekseyenko, one of the Russian-installed officials in occupied Kherson said on Telegram that up to 22,000 people are in the flood plains in Russian-controlled territory.
The destruction at the dam poses a risk to 16,000 people living on Kherson's right bank controlled by Ukraine, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the region.
Dozens of Ukrainians have already been evacuated from their homes, and are expected to be temporarily moved to other Ukrainian cities.
This attack also has the potential to disrupt Kyiv's much-anticipated counter-offensive, given there are limited crossing points over the Dnepr River.
Mikhailo Podolyak, one of Mr Zelensky's advisers, said on Twitter: "The purpose is obvious: to create insurmountable obstacles on the way of the advancing [Ukrainian Army]; to intercept the information initiative; to slow down the fair final of the war."
Nevertheless, Serhiy Naev, commander of the joint forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told his state news agency Ukrinform the destruction of the dam will not prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing.
He said: "As for preventing our offensive actions, the military command has taken into full account such treacherous enemy actions, and it should not prevent our advance in those directions where there may be spillage of water."