Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, part of the Defense Ministry, says Russian forces have begun mining the sluice gates and supports of the dam at Nova Kakhovka on the river Dnipro. 

Its allegations follow comments by President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he claimed Russian forces are mining a critical dam on the Dnipro river in the southern Kherson region, as well as the adjacent hydroelectric plant. 

“We have information that Russian terrorists have mined the dam and units of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant,” Zelensky told the Council of Europe during a video address. 

Defence Intelligence said the “Russians foresee a quick liberation of the west bank part of Kherson region by the Ukrainian Defence Forces and are preparing a series of terrorist attacks on this territory. In particular, the dam of the Kakhovka reservoir and units of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant are under the threat of destruction.” 

“During the current week, the sluices and supports of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant were additionally mined,” it said, claiming, “Two military tented Kamaz trucks without drivers were placed on the dam. Both vehicles are fully loaded with boxes of explosives. 

Russian-appointed officials in Kherson have dismissed the claims as “nonsense.” 

The reservoir behind the dam, which provides water to cool the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, holds about 18 million cubic meters of water.

(Source:CNN)