The Kakhovka dam explosion is possibly the most significant incident of civilian infrastructure damage since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said on CNN..

According to him, the dam is a critical source of water for millions of people in Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, as well as a key source of agricultural irrigation in the south of Kherson and the Crimean peninsula, which will affect agriculture and food production..

The worst situation, according to Griffiths, is in Russian-occupied areas, where humanitarian organizations still cannot gain access..

Speaking to the Security Council, the UN chief of aid noted the danger posed by fast-moving water, as well as the risks of mine and explosive contamination, which would thus move into areas previously considered safe..

“The damage caused by the destruction of the dam means that life will become much harder for those already suffering from conflict.

The consequences of not being able to deliver aid to the millions of flood-affected people in these areas are potentially catastrophic,” Griffiths said..

After the explosion, Ukrhydroenergo stated that the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station was completely destroyed and cannot be restored. Due to the Russian terrorist attack, about 16 thousand people found themselves in the critical flood zone on the right bank of the Kherson region. About 80 settlements are in danger on both banks of the Dnieper, but the occupied left bank of the region will be more affected.