A relocation of civilians from the battle zone was announced by Vladimir Saldo, the caretaker governor of the new Russian region of Kherson, on Tuesday. The move comes amid a new looming Ukrainian offensive and potential attempts by Kiev to destroy the dam of a local hydroelectric power plant, the governor explained.
“There is an immediate danger of flooding in the territories due to the planned destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric dam and release of water from a cascade of power plants upstream of the Dnepr River,” Saldo said.
The decision comes as the Russian military is reinforcing its positions in the region, Saldo explained. The relocation will help avoid mass civilian casualties from the ongoing hostilities and enable “the Russian troops to perform their duties in defending Kherson Region.”