Ukraine rushed to evacuate people from flooded areas downstream from the Kakhovka dam, as it and its allies tried to assess the humanitarian, economic and ecological damage.
(Bloomberg) — Ukraine rushed to evacuate people from flooded areas downstream from the Kakhovka dam, as it and its allies tried to assess the humanitarian, economic and ecological damage.
President Joe Biden said the US would continue to pour assistance into Ukraine. His administration said it was investigating who was responsible for the destruction, which it said had likely resulted in “many deaths.” Kyiv has blamed Russia, which analysts said was most likely to benefit militarily because the flooding could block a potential avenue of attack for Ukrainian forces. The Kremlin denied responsibility.
The flooding — one of the largest man-made disasters in Europe in decades — inundated almost 2,000 buildings on the west bank of the wide Dnipro River. Authorities had evacuated about 1,500 people by Wednesday morning. A Chinese envoy voiced grave concern over about the humanitarian, economic and ecological impact that the destruction of the hydroelectric plant is wreaking on Ukraine, Xinhua reported.
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Market Impact
Wheat prices surged after the destruction of the dam and damage to an ammonia pipeline that Moscow views as key to negotiations for extending the Black Sea grain deal.
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Coming Up
- Floodwaters from the dam breach are expected to peak
- News conference by Kherson regional council’s deputy chairman at 1 p.m. local time.
- Environmental experts hold news conference on damage at 2 p.m.
- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin takes part in meeting of CIS leaders
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