Putin: Kherson Dam attack was barbaric act

Russian President Putin called the collapse of the Kakhovka dam an "environmental and humanitarian disaster".

On June 7, President Putin commented for the first time on the Kakhovka dam collapse in Kherson province during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan. "This barbaric act has led to a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster," the Kremlin quoted President Putin as saying.

President Erdogan responded that it was important to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. He proposed the establishment of an investigative committee comprised of experts from the United Nations and the international community, including Türkiye.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 1. Photo: AFP — Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 1. Photo: *AFP*

On the same day, Erdogan also spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and made a similar proposal.

"Türkiye is ready to do everything in its power regarding this issue. Negotiation mechanisms can be used to resolve the problem, as was done with the grain corridor," the Turkish leader said.

The Kakhovka hydroelectric dam on the Dnieper River, in the Russian-controlled Kherson province, burst on June 6, releasing 18 billion cubic meters of water into towns and farmland downstream. Thousands of civilians were evacuated as many homes were submerged. Ukrainian officials are concerned about the risk of the floodwaters carrying away landmines and causing disease outbreaks.

The Kakhovka Dam reservoir, part of the hydroelectric power plant of the same name, is responsible for supplying cooling water to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Crimean Canal. The Kakhovka Dam was built by the Soviet Union between 1950 and 1956, located next to the city of Nova Kakhovka and about 70 km from Kherson.

Location of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. Graphic: DW

The Ukrainian government accuses Russia of detonating the Kakhovka dam in an attempt to prevent them from launching a counteroffensive. Meanwhile, Moscow claims that Kyiv shelled the dam to damage it, aiming to cut off water supply to the Crimean Peninsula and distract attention from the stalled major counteroffensive.

Russian-appointed officials in the city of Nova Kakhovka said on June 7 that floodwaters were beginning to recede. Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian President Oleksiy Kuleba also expressed hope that water levels would not rise further by the end of the day.

Türkiye maintains a neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and fosters good relations with both sides. Ankara has played a crucial mediating role, helping the parties reach agreements on Black Sea grain and prisoner exchanges.