European Council President Charles Michel said on Tuesday that Russia must be held accountable after the partial destruction of a hydroelectric dam in Ukraine, referring to it as a “war crime”.
• Also read: Ukraine: dam partially destroyed, Zelensky holds a meeting of the Security Council
Charles Michel tweeted: “Shocked by the unprecedented attack on the Nova Kakhovka Dam.” He added, “It is clear that the destruction of civilian infrastructure is a war crime, and we will hold Russia and its affiliates accountable.”
“My heart goes out to all the families in Ukraine affected by this catastrophe,” he added, adding that he would provide assistance to the flooded areas at the next summit of 27 leaders scheduled for the end of June in Brussels.
The Kakhovka Dam, located in Russian-occupied territories in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, was partially destroyed on Tuesday, with Moscow and Kiev blaming each other.
This dam, captured at the beginning of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, makes it especially possible to supply water to Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Built on the Dnieper River in 1956, during the Soviet era, the work is one of the largest infrastructures of this kind in Ukraine.
