Russian troops attacked the dam at the Pechenizke Reservoir in the Kharkiv region
On 14 April, Russian forces carried out an air strike on the dam of the Pechenizke Reservoir in the Chuhuiv district of Kharkiv region. This was reported by Oleg Synehubov, head of the regional military administration, and the 16th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to DW.
According to Synyegubov, the Russian military fired six guided bombs at the dam, which is the region’s largest reservoir and a critically important facility for Kharkiv and the wider region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces clarified that four bombs struck the ground near the hydraulic structures, whilst two others fell into the water. The dam remains undamaged, and water is being released in a planned, controlled manner.
The military noted that the timing of the attack was chosen during the spring flood season, when the reservoir holds its maximum volume of water. According to them, if the dam were to be destroyed, this could cause widespread flooding and environmental consequences for areas downstream.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces also stated that following the strike, reports of alleged damage to the dam and an emergency water release were circulated on Russian-controlled media outlets.
According to the military, Russian troops have already attempted to attack the Pechenizka dam on several occasions. Previously, attack drones, guided aerial bombs and various types of missiles were used against the facility.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine noted that the Ukrainian side is taking potential risks into account and has developed contingency plans in the event of damage to hydraulic structures, including alternative routes to ensure logistics.
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