# Russia invades Ukraine {2022-02-24} (Part 2)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Tags:** ukraine-invasion, breaking-news\
**Created:** [October 29, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972 "2022-10-29T17:49:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 213

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**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4335 "2023-06-06T02:25:32Z")

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The Nova Kakhovka dam was blown up last night. Wild. Going to be lots of flooding in Kherson oblast. The reservoir is also used to cool the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.

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**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4336 "2023-06-06T02:35:43Z")

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Video. Looking at satellite view, it does appear to be the Nova Kakhovka dam:

> <https://twitter.com/Faytuks/status/1665905176140554243>

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**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4337 "2023-06-06T02:44:58Z")

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> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#):
>
> Nova Kakhovka dam:

The Russian blew it up to stop assaults over the river downstream ?  
I Can’t imagine why Ukraine would destroy it .

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**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4338 "2023-06-06T02:45:44Z")

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[Here’s a link to the previous thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-1/960037/9905) showing an animated map of the area at risk of potential flooding posed by the dam.

(Since Twitter has gone downhill, I can’t post the tweet here directly as it now has an age restriction, although it’s still embedded in the previous thread.)

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**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4339 "2023-06-06T02:52:24Z")

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Most of the flooding will be on Russian occupied land and it’ll cut water to Crimea. Not saying Ukraine did it, but there are reasons they might

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**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4340 "2023-06-06T02:56:51Z")

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Ukrainian light infantry elements have crossed the river opposite Kherson in recent weeks and established a presence on the left bank. There’s also a road on the dam, so it’s a crossing point that is still functionable, unlike the bridge at Kherson. Russia would seem to have the most to gain by blowing the dam.

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**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4341 "2023-06-06T02:57:48Z")

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Thanks , appreciate clarifying what gets flooded.

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**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4342 "2023-06-06T03:03:43Z")

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> [@Snarky\_Kong](#):
>
> The Nova Kakhovka dam was blown up last night.

Not seeing any breaking news about this - big development if true…

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**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4343 "2023-06-06T03:06:07Z")

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> [@Snarky\_Kong](#):
>
> Nova Kakhovka dam was blown up

I just Googled this phrase and found nothing later than November 2022.

ETA: Twitter has several posts put up within the last hour showing what appears to be a busted dam, water flowing out.

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**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4344 "2023-06-06T03:07:02Z")

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Another flood model:

> <https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1665913365217042432>

> <https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1665912991303254018>

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**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4345 "2023-06-06T03:08:16Z")

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Local reports:

> <https://twitter.com/Faytuks/status/1665915854142296064>

> <https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1665915272526544896>

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**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4346 "2023-06-06T03:16:50Z")

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The Ukrainians say the Russians did it:

> [@](#):
>
> Оперативне командування “Південь”/Operational Command “South”
> 
> The Kakhovskaya HPP was blown up by the Russian occupying forces.  
> Currently, the scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified.  
> All services are working. The situation is being monitored.

> **[Оперативне командування "Південь"/Operational Command “South” | New City NY](https://www.facebook.com/OperationalCommandSouth/)**
>
> Оперативне командування "Південь"/Operational Command “South”, New City, New York. 34,489 likes · 2,719 talking about this · 537 were here. Офіційна сторінка оперативного командування "Південь"...

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**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4347 "2023-06-06T03:43:52Z")

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If Russia did do it, is it merely to restrict an offensive in that area? Seems a big price to pay since securing water access to Crimea was a big strategic win for them. Attempt to damage post-war Ukraine? Must be pretty worried about the counter offensive.

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**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4348 "2023-06-06T03:43:55Z")

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Reuters posts an article about 10 minutes ago:

> **[Nova Kakhovka dam in Kherson region blown up by Russian forces - Ukraine's...](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nova-kakhovka-dam-kherson-region-blown-up-by-russian-forces-ukraines-military-2023-06-06/)**
>
> The Nova Kakhovka dam in the Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine's Kherson region was blown up by Russian forces, the South command of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Tuesday.

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**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4349 "2023-06-06T03:56:35Z")

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Russian state media now also:

> <https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1665929603251068928>

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4350 "2023-06-06T03:58:03Z")

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> Russian state media now saying that the dam “collapsed due to damage”

Sure. Damage caused when Russian troops set the charges.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4351 "2023-06-06T04:29:17Z")

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Some satellite imagery:

> <https://twitter.com/evanhill/status/1665933276647772160>

One possibility is that the road could have been destroyed a few days ago to prevent vehicle crossing and it has subsequently led to the catastrophic failure of the dam, either deliberately or not. Or the dam may have been deliberately destroyed today.

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**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4352 "2023-06-06T04:48:59Z")

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The dam is split in a couple of places, with a big hole in the middle of a long building, so it seems more likely it would have been a deliberate explosion, or set of explosions, today that destroyed the dam, but I’m not an engineer.

[![](https://i.imgur.com/529H8hR.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/529H8hR.png)

> <https://twitter.com/Faytuks/status/1665936468643131392>

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4353 "2023-06-06T04:56:46Z")

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This is purportedly a video taken by a worker at the dam saying that it was structural failure caused by water pressure. Possibly Russian propaganda of course, but the idea is not completely ridiculous. The dam was damaged repeatedly last year and the reservoir level has reportedly been extremely high. Timing is super sus though.

> <https://twitter.com/Teoyaomiquu/status/1665937536064143366>

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/4354 "2023-06-06T05:04:57Z")

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Here’s a wider view:

> <https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1665944652397133824>

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