Russia isn't a country, it's a terrorist group.
Sounds like at minimum it was Russian negligence but it was likely Russia who did it.
All for what? Maybe so Russia could move their troops away and to other frontlines? Maybe they thought Ukraine was preparing an amphibious assault? The latter was extremely unlikely and now Ukraine will just move its Kherson forces to other fronts as well. There was very low chance that Ukraine would have done an assault in Kherson direction because of how incredibly high risk it would have been.
Kherson City gets moved further away from Russian artillery, more of Russian held territory gets flooded than Ukrainian held territory, oh and they've doomed the water supply to Crimea. All main cities in Russian controlled Kherson except Skadovk's are along the river. Kherson City on Ukraine side has to evacuate 16,000 citizens and will provide a temporary distraction for Ukraine.
Was this just to shorten the defensive line and buy a little extra time? It feels like a massive panic move or a scorched Earth move because they know they're fucked. Nothing says "we're here to liberate people" like blowing up a massive dam and flooding a massive portion of the place you're "liberating" and ruining the lives of thousands. Entire villages gone. Wheat production ruined even further.
Everyone "liberated" in Crimea is now fucked for fresh water too but hey Russia is "helping" them.
It's a civilian catastrophe, it's an ecological disaster, but it is of little tactical benefit so this is pure and simply a major terrorist act. Thousands of homes will be flooded, livelihoods ruined, an ecological disaster which will take years to recover from, environments destroyed. This is a war crime on the highest level and the West needs to respond, send Ukraine whatever the fuck they're asking for and increase the damn sanctions.
Approve ATACMS. Approve F-16s. Send Taurus and SCALP. Everything.
When will we start to fully hold Russia to account? Do they have to nuke Ukraine? Fuck this country, enact the worst sanctions possible on them.
I hope for as long as I live that I never see the West resume normal relations with Russia.
Wish I could see the day of a Storm Shadow being dropped on the Kremlin with Putin inside.
