Was the Ukrainian dam blown up after all? New images show car “loaded with explosives” just days before destruction | War Ukraine and Russia

The destruction of the important dam in the town of Nova Kakhovka, in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, resulted in severe flooding. So far, more than 11,000 local residents have been evacuated. At least 52 people have been killed and dozens of Ukrainians are still missing.

There are several theories about who is behind the destruction. Ukraine and Western allies point to Russia, but President Vladimir Putin denies involvement in the collapse. He recently called it a “barbaric act that has led to an ecological and humanitarian catastrophe” and openly accuses Ukraine. Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky called the destruction “a Russian act of terror”.

Another option is that the dam collapsed due to wear and tear or previous shelling, but that theory seems less likely. For example, seismological data from the independent Norwegian observatory Norsar indicate that an explosion did indeed take place at the dam.

The latter line of thought could now be confirmed by the new drone image that the American press agency AP got hold of. The photo, dated May 28, shows a white car with a destroyed roof. Large barrels – presumably explosives – appear to be lying inside the car.

An investigation by a team of international legal experts assisting Ukraine also shows that it is “very likely” that the dam collapsed due to Russian explosives, it was announced yesterday. A report from The New York Times supports that conclusion. The dam would have been virtually indestructible to outside factors such as shelling. The report therefore suggests that she was blown up from the inside.