Dam blown up in Russian-occupied Ukraine causes widespread flooding

Synopsis

Ukraine and Russia are accusing each other of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka Dam and hydroelectric power plant, leading to widespread flooding in southern Ukraine. Videos show water surging through a collapsed wall of the dam, prompting local authorities to urge residents in downstream villages to evacuate. Ukraine's military blames Russia for the destruction, while Russian officials and state media point fingers at Ukraine. The dam is crucial for supplying drinking water, agriculture, and cooling the nearby Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. President Zelensky calls for an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, emphasizing the need to expel Russia from Ukraine. The governor of the Kherson region announces evacuations from low-lying districts as fears grow that water levels will rise rapidly, potentially affecting around 80 towns and villages, including the strategically important city of Kherson. Hospitals in the region are on high alert as the situation develops.