The invaders wanted to blackmail Ukraine by blowing up the dam and have caused a technological disaster in Ukraine’s south.

The occupiers discuss this in a telephone conversation intercepted by the SSU.

‘It’s not them [Ukrainians] who hit it. It was our sabotage group. They wanted to scare with this dam. It went not as planned, but more than they planned’ a russian military serviceman says.

He also describes the aftermath of the disaster, which russia is trying to hide: rising water levels, flooded territories and destruction.

The SSU has opened a criminal investigation into this russian war crime.

‘Having blown up the dam of the Kakhovka HPP, russia has totally proved to be a threat to the entire civilized world. Only a true terrorist state can cause a technological and environmental disaster of such magnitude. And it will definitely be held accountable for this - both on the battlefield and in international courts. Our task is to bring to justice not only the top brass of putin’s regime, but also the actual perpetrators of the crimes,’ the SSU Head Vasyl Maliuk underscored.

The investigation was initiated under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: 438 - violation of laws and customs of war and 441 - ecocide.