Official: Russian forces shoot at civilian boat with evacuees, injuring 6.

Russian troops have attacked a boat with evacuees from the flooded areas of the Russian-occupied east back of the Dnipro River, injuring six people, President Volodymyr Zelensky's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak reported[1] on June 11. Yermak said Russian forces "opened fire at the backs" of evacuees. All the injured were hospitalized when the boat got to the Ukrainian-controlled west bank in Kherson, the regional capital.

The medics are trying to save the lives of the injured, Yermak said. On June 11, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported[2] that 2,718 civilians had been evacuated from the flooded areas. He also reported five deaths due to flooding in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, and 35 missing individuals, including seven children.

Casualty figures remain unknown on the east bank under Russian occupation[3]. Ukraine says that Russian forces intentionally destroyed the Kakhovka hydropower plant[4], causing the massive flooding of dozens of settlements on the both banks of the Dnipro River. An alleged call between Russian soldiers intercepted[5] by Ukraine's intelligence services on June 9 supposedly confirms Moscow's complicity.

The U.S. government has so far refused[6] to say conclusively who is responsible for the Kakhovka disaster but asserted that Russia ultimately bears blame as it was in control of the dam.

Saving lives from Russia's flood: Inside inundated, shelled Kherson Since Russia's full-scale war began, first came eight months of terror under occupation, then came seven months of intense shelling across the river, then came the river itself to Kherson. Over 24 hours after Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and its massive...

Reporter

Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent.

He covers Ukraine's foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country's military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the #AllForJan Award 2023 co-winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. He was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.

References

1. ^ reported (t.me)
2. ^ reported (t.me)
3. ^ occupation (kyivindependent.com)
4. ^ Kakhovka hydropower plant (kyivindependent.com)
5. ^ intercepted (kyivindependent.com)
6. ^ refused (kyivindependent.com)
7. ^ Saving lives from Russia's flood: Inside inundated, shelled KhersonSince Russia's full-scale war began, first came eight months of terror under occupation, then came seven months of intense shelling across the river, then came the river itself to Kherson.

   Over 24 hours after Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and its massive... (kyivindependent.com)