Up to 40,000 people found themselves in the disaster zone after the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station

From 22,000 to 40,000 people were in the disaster zone in the Kherson region due to flooding as a result of the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. This was announced by the Acting Governor of the region Vladimir Saldo on the air of the Soloviev Live TV channel.

“According to preliminary forecasts, it is somewhere from 22,000 to 40,000 [человек]”, – he said, answering the related question (quote according to TASS).

Saldo specified that seven people remain missing. Authorities speculate they may be on the islands. The rest of the missing were found, the head of the region emphasized.

Earlier today, Mayor of Nova Kakhovka Vladimir Leontiev reportedthat rescuers and representatives of the operational headquarters are looking for “about seven people” missing. According to him, these are shepherds who could stay on the islands. According to preliminary information, they were evacuated, but representatives of the operational headquarters are still “circling” these territories, Leontyev specified.

The district authorities took out about 900 people from the flooded territories per day, Leontiev added. According to him, the damage assessment begins.

In the administration of the Novokakhovsk city district notedthat the water level in the city began to decline. The day before, June 6, Leontiev reported that the water level in Novaya Kakhovka had risen by more than 11 m.

The breakthrough of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station occurred on the night of June 6. As a result, an uncontrolled discharge of water began. The day before, the level of water rise in Novaya Kakhovka increased by 11 m, Mayor Vladimir Leontiev reported. A local state of emergency (ES) was introduced on the territory of the district. On the fact of the incident, the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on a terrorist attack.

By versions Russian side, the cause of the incident at the HPP was shelling, which led to the destruction of three spans under water pressure. The administration of the Novokakhovsk urban district stated that, presumably, the blow was delivered by the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the Alder MLRS (RS-2).

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu laid responsible for the incident on Kyiv, saying that the Ukrainian side had blown up the constructions of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. In the Kremlin called what happened as a deliberate sabotage and connected it with the “unsuccessful counteroffensive” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukraine blames Russia for the destruction of the station. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that the country will convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council because of the situation around the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Similar actions will undertake Russia.