An explosion in the tunnel of the dam’s concrete foundation could have caused the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP – NYT
The disaster at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was most likely caused by the undermining of an underwater passage. It was a kind of Achilles’ heel located deep inside the dam. Russia knew about this weakness and took advantage of it.
This was reported by Channel 24 with reference to The New York Times.
This conclusion was made by journalists of a leading American publication. They described in detail what could have caused the explosion that was fatal to the dam.
According to the journalists, the occupiers blew up the concrete foundation, which was underwater and took most of the load on the dam. There was a technical tunnel inside the base, accessible from the engine room, which was controlled by the Russian side.
Ukrainian engineer Ihor Strilets believes that the only explanation for the destruction of the dam’s concrete foundation was an explosion in the tunnel. According to him, the explosion destroyed part of the foundation, after which other parts of the dam located near the explosion site collapsed under water pressure. Two American engineers and an explosives expert agree with the Ukrainian expert.
If your goal is to destroy a dam, you need a powerful explosion. A tunnel is an ideal place to plant an explosive, – Michael West, an engineer specializing in dam safety, said.
Engineers cite data from seismic stations and satellites as another proof that the explosion caused the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP. On June 6, at 2:35 and 2:54 a.m., seismic stations in Ukraine and Romania recorded the explosion. Sensors on US reconnaissance satellites detected heat emissions before the dam collapsed, which also indicates an explosion, the New York Times reports.
What is known about the destruction of Kakhovka HPP
On June 6, Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. The flood zone includes 80 settlements. Most of them are on the left bank of the Kherson region. According to official figures, 25 people were killed on the Russian-occupied left bank. Volunteers who participated in the evacuation said that there could be hundreds of victims.
Earlier, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of destroying the dam. The Ukrainian side spoke of an explosion in the engine room, while the Russians spoke of missile strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. OSINT analysts wrote that the dam could have collapsed due to previous damage and improper operation by the Russians.
The estimated amount of environmental damage caused by the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP exceeded UAH 55 billion.
