KYIV: Ukraine and Russia accused each other of blowing up a major dam Tuesday near Kherson in southern Ukraine, setting off a new crisis in the war-torn country.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in an area of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops unleashed a torrent of water and forced the evacuation of 16,000 people living along the Dnipro River.

Ukrainian authorities reported that nearly 40 towns and villages were fully or partially flooded in regions they control, and the impact was also expected to be severe in the Russian-controlled areas.

Looking downstream, Russia controls the left bank of the river and the dam itself, while Ukraine holds the right bank.

In Washington, the White House said it could not say conclusively what caused the destruction of the massive dam but was assessing reports that the blast was caused by Russia, which has been occupying the dam since last year.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said it was clear that the destruction of the dam had likely caused “many deaths.”

European Council President Charles Michel said he was “shocked by the unprecedented attack,” tweeting, “The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime — and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.”

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop.

“Today’s tragedy is yet another example of the horrific price of war on people,” he told reporters. “The floodgates of suffering have been overflowing for more than a year. That must stop.”

Ukraine and Russia accused each other of blowing up a major dam Tuesday near Kherson in southern Ukraine, setting off a new crisis in the war-torn country.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in an area of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops unleashed a torrent of water and forced the evacuation of 16,000 people living along the Dnipro River.

Ukrainian authorities reported that nearly 40 towns and villages were fully or partially flooded in regions they control, and the impact was also expected to be severe in the Russian-controlled areas.

Looking downstream, Russia controls the left bank of the river and the dam itself, while Ukraine holds the right bank.

In Washington, the White House said it could not say conclusively what caused the destruction of the massive dam but was assessing reports that the blast was caused by Russia, which has been occupying the dam since last year.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said it was clear that the destruction of the dam had likely caused “many deaths.”

European Council President Charles Michel said he was “shocked by the unprecedented attack,” tweeting, “The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime — and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.”

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop.

“Today’s tragedy is yet another example of the horrific price of war on people,” he told reporters. “The floodgates of suffering have been overflowing for more than a year. That must stop.”

(VOA)