It was not clear who was responsible for the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on Tuesday, but Kyiv and Moscow, without offering evidence, quickly blamed each other for the torrent of water that was putting thousands of people at risk.

President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed “Russian terrorists” and Ukrainian officials said Russian forces had caused an explosion at the Russian-held facility. The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, blamed the destruction of the dam on Ukrainian forces, describing it as a “sabotage” attack that could result in “very severe consequences” for local residents and the environment. Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had launched a criminal investigation.

The security of the dam, the second largest of the cascade of dams on the Dnipro river, has been a continuing concern during the war in Ukraine, with both sides accusing the other of plotting to destroy it.

Peskov said one of the reasons Ukraine would have for attacking the dam would be to deprive Crimea of water. The reservoir above the destroyed dam connects to a canal supplying water to the Crimean peninsula.

Peskov denied accusations by Ukraine that Russian forces had blown up the dam. Ukraine’s hydropower company, Ukrhydroenergo, said the damage at the dam was caused by an explosion inside the engine room, which is under Russian control. The power plant, it said, “cannot be restored”.

New York Times News Service