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| Ukraine dam: The city of Kherson has had enough | |
| (1 day later) | |
| See the extent of the dam breach devastation and rescue attempts | See the extent of the dam breach devastation and rescue attempts |
| See the extent of the dam breach devastation and rescue attempts | See the extent of the dam breach devastation and rescue attempts |
| In the drive towards Kherson's riverbanks, water from the Dnipro river arrives earlier than expected. | In the drive towards Kherson's riverbanks, water from the Dnipro river arrives earlier than expected. |
| Ahead, rooftops protrude above its brown, cloudy flood waters. To the right is the roof of a small truck. | Ahead, rooftops protrude above its brown, cloudy flood waters. To the right is the roof of a small truck. |
| Occasionally a small rescue boat weaves through the submerged streets to pull people trapped in their homes. | Occasionally a small rescue boat weaves through the submerged streets to pull people trapped in their homes. |
| The city is just over 75km (45 miles) downstream of the Kakhovka dam, destroyed on Tuesday, and flood waters have badly hit low-lying areas. | The city is just over 75km (45 miles) downstream of the Kakhovka dam, destroyed on Tuesday, and flood waters have badly hit low-lying areas. |
| This is a city which has experienced all the devastating dimensions of Russia's invasion. | This is a city which has experienced all the devastating dimensions of Russia's invasion. |
| We meet Viktoriia, whose house was destroyed in February. | We meet Viktoriia, whose house was destroyed in February. |
| "I moved to my son's apartment here, which has now been flooded," she tells us. "We managed to get out." | "I moved to my son's apartment here, which has now been flooded," she tells us. "We managed to get out." |
| "There was panic, we had to leave quickly and grab the dogs. My brother is half paralysed too." | "There was panic, we had to leave quickly and grab the dogs. My brother is half paralysed too." |
| Viktoriia is worried about her neighbours, who live towards what is now a watery horizon. Waters levels could rise further and are expected to peak hours after we met. | Viktoriia is worried about her neighbours, who live towards what is now a watery horizon. Waters levels could rise further and are expected to peak hours after we met. |
| "My neighbours are effectively hostages," she says. "I'm not sure if the emergency services can enter the building, but they need to know there are more people there. Please help!" | "My neighbours are effectively hostages," she says. "I'm not sure if the emergency services can enter the building, but they need to know there are more people there. Please help!" |
| Kherson residents just want the nightmare to be over | Kherson residents just want the nightmare to be over |
| As helpless as listening to Viktoriia's experience might make you feel, she represents a shift in mood here. | As helpless as listening to Viktoriia's experience might make you feel, she represents a shift in mood here. |
| "I hope things will be fine again," she says. "We'll be liberated and this nightmare will be over." | "I hope things will be fine again," she says. "We'll be liberated and this nightmare will be over." |
| Kherson has gone through occupation, then liberation after heavy fighting. It's shelled most days - and now this. | Kherson has gone through occupation, then liberation after heavy fighting. It's shelled most days - and now this. |
| When we were here last November, there was an enduring optimism. | When we were here last November, there was an enduring optimism. |
| The only Ukrainian regional centre to be occupied by Russian forces during last year's invasion, the city had just been liberated by Ukrainian troops in a rapid counter-offensive. | The only Ukrainian regional centre to be occupied by Russian forces during last year's invasion, the city had just been liberated by Ukrainian troops in a rapid counter-offensive. |
| That atmosphere has now changed. Morale is lower. People have had enough. | That atmosphere has now changed. Morale is lower. People have had enough. |
| The Kakhovka dam has become a symbol of leverage between Kyiv and Moscow. When Russia first annexed Crimea in 2014, Ukrainian authorities closed it down and cut off the peninsula from a major water supply. | The Kakhovka dam has become a symbol of leverage between Kyiv and Moscow. When Russia first annexed Crimea in 2014, Ukrainian authorities closed it down and cut off the peninsula from a major water supply. |
| Then last year, invading forces were accused by Ukraine of planting the dam with explosives, which the Kremlin denied. | Then last year, invading forces were accused by Ukraine of planting the dam with explosives, which the Kremlin denied. |
| Now, with its breaching and subsequent devastation, a full hand has been played by one of the sides. | Now, with its breaching and subsequent devastation, a full hand has been played by one of the sides. |
| Additional reporting by Rachael Thorn and Daria Sipigina. | Additional reporting by Rachael Thorn and Daria Sipigina. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| Russia | Russia |
| Ukraine |