As a result of the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam, thousands of people in Russian and Ukrainian-controlled areas along the Dnipro River are at risk of flooding.
The massive dam broke on Tuesday, flooding a large portion of the war zone in Ukraine and forcing thousands to evacuate. Ukraine and Russia both blame each other.
According to U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, thousands of people in southern Ukraine on both sides of the front line will lose their homes, food, safe water, and livelihoods as a result of the dam breach.
Tuesday saw a 3.5-meter rise in water levels 60 kilometers downstream of the dam in the city of Kherson.
In approximately 80 communities threatened by flooding, buses, trains, and private vehicles were used to evacuate residents.
Robert Wood, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., told reporters that it would be illogical for Ukraine to blow up the dam and harm its own citizens.
In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed that his government had contacted the ICC over the dam. He had earlier claimed on Telegram that Russian forces were responsible for the explosion at the power plant.
In addition to cooling the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the dam provides water to a large agricultural region in southern Ukraine, including the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.
