Ukrainian Strike on Dam Creates Flood Risk in Belgorod

The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has stated that the dam of the Belgorod reservoir on the Seversky Donets river has been damaged as a result of a Ukrainian missile strike. In this connection, the authorities have begun preparations for a possible evacuation due to the danger of flooding for nearby settlements.

"As a result of a strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the dam of the Belgorod reservoir has been damaged. We understand that the enemy may try to strike again and destroy the dam. If that happens, there will be a danger of flooding of the adjacent areas of the river from the Kharkiv region and several streets of our settlements, where about 1,000 people live," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

Residents of the settlements near the reservoir, known among the local population as the "Belgorod Sea," are being offered evacuation to Belgorod and accommodation in the city's temporary accommodation centers.

According to Gladkov, the authorities have begun to contact people who are directly threatened by the flood and who have no other possibility of temporary resettlement. This refers in particular to the villages of Bezlyudovka, Novaya Tavolzhanka, and Shebekino.

It should be noted that the total volume of the Belgorod reservoir is about 76 million cubic meters, which gives rise to additional concerns about the possible consequences in case of the complete destruction of the dam.