The mayor of Nova Kakhovka announced a rise in the water level in the city by 11 meters

The water level in Novaya Kakhovka has risen by more than 11 m. This was announced by the mayor of the city Vladimir Leontiev.

“The water rose over 11 m. <...> At 14:25, the water rose almost to the maximum level and even slightly higher, this is due to the fact that the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir was about a meter higher, it was artificially restrained, and then dumped by the Ukrainian authorities,” he said (quote according to TASS).

According to the official, the building of the machine room of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station was under water. The destruction continues, Leontiev added. The head of the city administration said that some residents of Nova Kakhovka needed help after the destruction of the hydroelectric power station. They were taken to the hospital.

The authorities expect that the level of water rise has reached a peak. Leontiev clarifiedthat in the Novokakhovsk urban district three settlements have already been completely flooded. Formerly in the county introduced local state of emergency. The authorities, together with the regional Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, are taking measures to eliminate emergencies in flood zones, as well as to protect houses, roads and socially significant objects of the district.

Kakhovskaya HPP was fired upon around 2 am on June 6th. As a result, the upper part of the HPP was destroyed, which caused an uncontrolled discharge of water. By words Leontiev, the restoration of the station is impossible. Leontiev admitted that the maximum rise of water could be 12 m.

In this regard, the Russian authorities began to evacuate people “from all flooded territories.” According to the mayor of the city, it is planned to take out the inhabitants of about 300 houses. Water is expected descend to normal levels within 72 hours.

In the administration of the Novokakhovsk city district toldthat the incident at the hydroelectric power station was caused by shelling, which led to the destruction of three spans under water pressure. The authorities blamed Kyiv for the attack. Presumably, the blow was delivered by the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the Alder MLRS (RS-2), the administration noted. On the fact of the incident, the Investigative Committee of Russia aroused criminal case of a terrorist attack.

Ukraine blames Russia for what happened. The Kremlin rejects such statements. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov emphasizedthat what happened is a deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side “by order received from Kyiv.”