Zelensky visits the area flooded by the destruction of the Kajovka dam in Kherson

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskymoved this Thursday to the southern region that was flooded after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam and the Russian occupation authorities reported that there are five dead in one of the affected areas.

The destruction of the dam Kakhovka on Tuesday forced the evacuation of thousands of people after the rise of the waters of the dnieper rivera catastrophic flood that inundated dozens of towns and parts of the regional capital, Kherson.

LOOK: Why the destroyed dam in Ukraine is important and what could happen to the largest nuclear power plant in Europe

The regional governor of KhersonOleksandr Prokudin, reported that the flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam extends over 600 km2.

“The average level of the flood is 5.61 meters. 600 km2 of the region of Kherson they are underwater“, said.

Some 32% are on the kyiv-controlled right bank and the remaining 68% are on the Moscow-controlled left, he explained.

Zelensky I travel the city of Kherson this Thursday and visited a civilian evacuation point, where he spoke with those in charge of operations.

“Our task is to protect lives and help people as much as possible. Thanks to the rescuers and volunteers!”, he stated in a message posted on social media.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits flood-affected areas in Kherson. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP).

The president reported that he held a “coordination meeting” on the operational situation of the region and stated that he wants to “compensate the inhabitants affected by the catastrophe”.

The Ukrainian state emergency service indicated that “20 settlements and 2,629 houses” were flooded.

Likewise noted that 1,995 people were evacuated from the flooded areas in the kyiv-controlled area, including 103 children. Many more people fled on their own.

For their part, the authorities appointed by Russia since the invasion of Ukrainereported that 4,500 residents have already been evacuated and that five people drowned when they took their cattle to graze.

The mayor appointed by Moscow in the city of Novaya Kajovka, Vladimir Leontiev, explained that there are more than 40 people hospitalized.

This is the first death toll released since the destruction of the dam.

The waters begin to recede

The rescuers continue this Thursday the evacuation operations the areas controlled by Ukraineusing boats and amphibious vehicles.

Tetiana Omelchenko, 65, told AFP that waited for two days for rescuers and that he had to get out by his means through a broken window to reach the rescue boat.

“In my building, the water reached the third floor and there are still people there”he claimed.

According to Laura Musaiyan of the Meteorological Center of Khersonthe waters are 5.33 meters above the normal level.

“This is equivalent to two plants, you can only survive if one is on a roof,” he explained.

Musaiyan said the water level began to drop slightly. “If this trend continues, it would be good news for the inhabitants,” he estimated to AFP.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky listens as a local resident evacuated from a flooded area in Kherson to a hospital. (AFP). (HANDOUT/)

lifeguards under fire

Zelensky on Wednesday criticized the lack of humanitarian aid and said he was “shocked.”

“The UN, the United Nations and the representatives of the Red Cross are not there. All these hours, and they’re still not there.” Zelensky in an interview broadcast by the German media Welt TV and Bild.

In a telephone conversation with ZelenskyFrench President Emmanuel Macron announced the shipment “in the next few hours” of “aid to respond to the immediate needs” of Ukraine.

Zelensky accused Russia since Tuesday of destroying the dam to block a counter-offensive by its troops in this area of ​​southern Ukraine.

For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Wednesday, calling the destruction of the dam a “savagery” and holding Ukraine responsible.

Russia accused Ukraine on Thursday before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of having launched “massive” artillery bombardments against the reservoir.

Zelensky accused Russian forces of attacking first responders operating in the disaster area. “As soon as our forces try to get someone out, the occupiers shoot at them from a distance,” he said.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the Russians “were not prepared for the consequences of the explosion” and “suffered losses of men, weapons and military equipment.”

In the rest of Ukraine, “in an extremely complex operational context, violent fighting continues in various sectors,” the British Ministry of Defense reported on Twitter.

“In most areas, Ukraine retains the initiative. Russian forces will likely continue to receive orders to resume the offensive as soon as possible,” he added.

In eastern Ukraine, in Donetsk, a boy, his father and grandfather were killed in a Russian shelling, Ukrainian police said.

Source: Elcomercio