ISW explains why russians hit Kurakhove Reservoir dam

Russian occupation forces could blow up the dam of the Kurakhove Reservoir to cause significant and prolonged flooding west of it, which could aid russian efforts to encircle Ukrainian forces north and south of Kurakhove.

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Thus, analysts indicate that russian troops are currently conducting offensive operations to the north, southeast, south, and southwest of Kurakhove as part of broader efforts to eliminate the Ukrainian offensive in the Kurakhove Axis.

Russian offensive operations to the northwest and north of Kurakhove along the Sontsivka-Voznesenka-Novoselydivka line are intended to advance southwest and south to capture the Ukrainian core north of the Kurakhove Reservoir.

Russian troops are also advancing with a wide front along the Shakhtarske-Trudivske-Antonivka line with the aim of covering the Ukrainian offensive to the south of Kurakhove.

"The Kurakhove Reservoir is a significant water barrier separating Ukrainian groups north and south of Kurakhove, and russian forces may have struck the Terny Dam to flood settlements along the Vovcha River west of the reservoir, increasing the water barrier, which divides these Ukrainian groups," ISW suggested.

In addition, analysts said, russian forces may also have intended to flood the river to prevent Ukrainian forces from using the H-15 (Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia) route, an important Ukrainian demarcation line that runs through Kurakhove and just south of the Vovcha River.

"The potential benefits that russian forces could gain from damaging the dam are currently unclear, as the extent and duration of the flood remain unknown at this time," the Institute added.

We will remind you that yesterday it became known that the russians damaged the dam of the Kurakhove reservoir, at 04:00 p.m. the water level in the river within the Velykonovosilkivska community rose by 1.2 m.

It is currently impossible to inspect the hydraulic engineering structure near the village of Stari Terny of the Kurakhove community due to shelling.

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