Why Russia blew up the Kurakhove reservoir dam: Expert analysis

Kurakhove protects the Vovcha River reservoir from the northern flank. Firstly, Russia wants to make the reservoir shrink by blowing up the dam.

“Secondly, they want the reservoir to spill over and cause problems. Because it will erode the positions of our forces. And so they just want to use the landscape to their advantage. Because they have problems, they cannot fully surround Kurakhove now, but they would certainly like to,” Musiienko said.

Ukrainian soldiers, in turn, are defending using the reservoir, the river, and water obstacles.

“The enemy, in order to deprive us of this opportunity, seeks to influence exactly these consequences. To take advantage of the landscape. Since they cannot surround us with troops, they are trying to do it with the help of the reservoir,” adds Musiienko.

He notes that no one will allow Ukrainian troops to be surrounded. And if the risks increase, “it is possible to withdraw with a fight”, as it happened before.

“Everything will be done to avoid leaving our troops there without logistics or reinforcements or without the ability to withdraw if necessary,” Musiienko said.

Damage to the Kurakhove dam

Yesterday, on November 11, the Russian army damaged the dam of the Kurakhove reservoir. As a result, the water level in the Vovcha River has risen.

As the head of the Kurakhove city military administration Roman Padun said today, there has been no flooding of residential buildings so far. There is also no threat of a complete water leakage from the Kurakhove reservoir.