The demolition of the dam leaves the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) with reduced access to cooling water. Keep in mind that it is the Russians who’ve used ZNPP as a bargaining chip and periodically seemed poised to cause a nuclear accident.

While Crimea will have two years to wait before feeling the impact of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, Ukrainian agriculture will feel it in the next weeks as water for irrigation becomes scarce.

Historically, this is not the first time the Russians have destroyed a dam in Ukraine to slow down an opposing army.

Marcus M. Keupp 📯 // @MMKeupp@mas.to @MMKeupp
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for some historic reference, this is not the first time a #dam is blown up in #ukraine. in 1941, the dam at #Zaporizhia was breached by #stalin's secret police:
rferl.org
Ukrainian Activists Draw Attention To Little-Known WWII Tragedy
1:19 AM · Jun 6, 2023 //

If you look at the reservoir level, you can see where the Russians opened the floodgates to put a scare into the IAEA over the wellbeing of the ZNPP. You can also see where the Russians closed the floodgates and raised the water level to the highest in the dam’s history. In early May, the water spilled over the top of the dam and caused flooding and evacuations downstream. //

To me, this points to Russia’s willingness to weaponize the dam. YMMV. //

At this point, the preponderance of the evidence indicates Russia destroyed the dam. The dam’s location behind the lines and the denial by the quisling mayor of any large-scale Ukrainian artillery barrage means the destruction was by means of planted explosives. The focus pro-Russian sources are placing on the flooding of Russian fortifications and the loss of water to Crimea are, in my view, bullsh** on stilts. The flooded fortifications had largely been abandoned as untenable, and Crimea has a two-year water reserve. In short, the Russians lost nothing.

On the other hand, Ukraine will be stuck with the rebuilding of the dam. Any potential to open a supporting attack across the Dneiper to aid the main offensive is off the table. The river forms a nearly impassable obstacle, permitting Russia to withdraw forces from Kherson Oblast for use elsewhere. The biggest argument against Ukraine demolishing the dam is the environmental damage caused by the flooding and the harm that would do to Ukraine’s political offensive in Europe.

Finally, wanton destruction is part of Russia’s brand. This action, like holding ZNPP hostage, slaughtering civilians, kidnapping children, and consciously targeting Ukrainian cities by missile strikes, is just the Russian way of war. That is who they are.