The Kakhovka Dam in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine holds "water masses 'as big as a sea'". According to the Ukrainian government, Russia wants to use them as a weapon: President Volodymyr Zelenskyj accuses the Kremlin troops of mining the dam to cause a flood disaster. Possibly to stop the Ukrainian offensive in the south of the country? The occupiers now want Cherson to be expanded into a "fortress". At the same time, Russia is continuing attacks on Ukrainian energy supplies in other parts of the country. Iranian self-destruct drones are said to be used repeatedly. Perhaps that is why Iran is calling on its nationals to better leave Ukraine. The 240th day of the war at a glance.
Selenskyj: Russia wants to destroy the dam near Cherson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of planting mines in a dam in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson. "According to our information, the units and the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station were mined by Russian terrorists," said Zelenskyy in his daily video message. Should the dam break, 80 settlements, including the city of Kherson, would be flooded.
The dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station is located on the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, which is currently controlled by Russian troops. Moscow denies the Ukrainian allegations. The state news agency RIA quotes the region's deputy governor, Kirill Stremousov, as saying that these are wrong.
Ukraine demands observer mission
In order to prevent a catastrophe, Ukraine has called for an international observer mission to the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. "We call on the UN, the EU and other organizations to organize an international monitoring mission for Kakhovka," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a government meeting. International experts and Ukrainian staff would have to go to the site immediately.
Occupiers speak of the "fortress" of Cherson
According to Moscow, it is expanding the southern Ukrainian city of Cherson into a "fortress". The city, occupied by Russian troops, is preparing to defend itself against the advancing Ukrainian army, wrote the Russian-installed deputy governor of the region, Stremousov, on Telegram. He insisted that Russia would not give up Kherson. "Believe me, no one intends to give up the city," said the deputy chief of the occupation government.
The situation of the Russian armed forces in and around Cherson had recently deteriorated further and further. In view of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, the occupation authorities announced their withdrawal from the region and also from the strategically important city on Wednesday.
Tehran: Iranian citizens should leave Ukraine
Iran advises its citizens to leave Ukraine. "Due to the military escalation in Ukraine, all Iranians are urged to refrain from traveling to Ukraine," semi-official news agencies quoted a statement from the Foreign Ministry in Tehran as saying. "Iranians living in Ukraine should leave the country for their own safety."
Russia had repeatedly attacked Ukraine in the past few days with combat drones from Iran. According to the US government, Iranian forces are also on site to train Russian forces on the drones. Tehran denies supplying the drones.
USA: Russia wants to order sanctioned goods from North Korea
According to the US State Department, the Russian leadership is working on agreements with North Korea for the supply of goods for the war against Ukraine, which Russia "cannot produce or otherwise acquire" due to export controls and sanctions. That said the spokesman for the ministry, Ned Price. "Russia may turn to countries like Iran and North Korea out of desperation, but that doesn't make it any less dangerous."
On September 6, US intelligence reported that North Korea was selling millions of artillery shells and missiles to Russia. North Korea denied the report.
Russian attacks on up to 40 percent of Ukraine's power grid
According to the country's energy minister, the Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy supply have so far affected 30 to 40 percent of the electricity grid. As a result, electricity generation has been restricted, says Herman Halushchenko. "At least half of the thermal power production capacity, even more" have failed. As a result of the attacks this week, 4,000 MW of capacity was lost. Plants were attacked for the first time, but they were also bombed again "to completely destroy them". Ukraine may have to buy additional electricity to get through the crisis.
Kharkiv and Zaporizhia report airstrikes
According to local authorities, at least twelve people have been injured in renewed air raids on Ukrainian cities. In Zaporizhia, Russian missiles damaged a house, a school and the energy infrastructure, said the governor of the regional administration, Olexander Starukh. At least three people were injured. The authorities in Kharkiv also reported further Russian attacks. A total of nine people were injured, regional governor Oleh Synyehubov said in his Telegram channel.
Moscow: Weapons depot in Kherson region destroyed
According to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, the Russian Air Force has destroyed a weapons depot in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson. Military equipment manufactured abroad was stored there, the ministry said. An independent verification of the information is not possible.
Pentagon chief calls Russian defense minister
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a phone call with his Russian colleague Sergei Shoigu, urged that channels of communication be maintained amid the Ukraine war. That said the US Department of Defense. Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the two ministers "discussed current international security issues, including the situation in Ukraine." Neither the Pentagon nor the Russian Ministry of Defense gave details of the talks.
It was the second conversation between Austin and Shoigu since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine began on February 24. The last meeting between the two ministers took place on May 13th.
Kyiv is hoping for more IRIS-T SLMs from Germany
The Ukrainian army hopes for further deliveries of the German air defense system IRIS-T SLM. That said the Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, according to the Kiev media. The system has "proven itself well" against recent Russian attacks. "The only downside is that there are few. German industry is expected to gain momentum to increase production levels so that Ukraine can get as many of these systems as possible," Ihnat said. He declined to reveal the exact location. IRIS-T is "at the top" of the enemy's target list. The first system was handed over to Ukraine a week ago.
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