MOSCOW, Russia — On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of damaging the Kakhovka dam at the urging of the West, labelling it a “barbaric” war crime that heightened tensions with Moscow.
The enormous Soviet-era Kakhovka dam, which Russia controls, failed early Tuesday, flooding a part of the battleground in southern Ukraine.
Russia was accused for the explosion in Ukraine. Russia said Ukraine destroyed the dam to cut off water supply to Crimea and divert attention away from a faltering offensive. The dam may have collapsed, according to some Russian-backed officials in the area.