Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited flood-devastated Kherson as authorities said some 600 square kilometers (230 square miles) of the southern region were under water two days after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed.
“We will help and rebuild everything that needs to be rebuilt,” Zelenskiy said as he toured a river crossing and a hospital in the regional capital, with authorities only beginning to survey the humanitarian, economic and ecological damage.
Almost a third of the the flood zone, where thousands are being evacuated, is held by Ukrainian forces, while the rest is in Russian-occupied territory, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram. The ecological fallout includes the flooding of 55 thousand hectares of forest, where much of the wildlife is “doomed to die,” Ukrainian cabinet member Oleh Nemchinov said.
Latest Coverage
- Russian Elite Is Souring on Putin’s Chances of Winning His War
- UK Eyes War-Risk Insurance Scheme for Ukraine’s Reconstruction
- Ukraine Promises Embassies, Grain to Counter Russia in Africa
- China Lobbies EU Over Proposal to Punish Firms Supplying Russia
- Ukraine’s Allies Call Destruction of Dam a ‘War Crime’
Market Impact
Wheat retreated with cheap Russian exports — and as traders consider the latest impact of the war against the outlook for global supplies of the key food crop.
Coming Up
- Floodwaters from the dam breach are expected to peak
- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin takes part in meeting of CIS leaders
