Base pump station within Kakhovka Main Canal flooded due to enemy shelling – Khlan

The base pumping station within the Kakhovka Main Canal has been flooded due to Russian attacks. Southern Ukraine may now end up without irrigation services.

The relevant statement was made by Member of Kherson Regional Council Serhii Khlan on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Sadly, a report on the base pumping station within the Kakhovka Main Canal being flooded due to the occupiers’ shelling has been confirmed. There is a risk that southern Ukraine will end up without irrigation services, as well as the Kherson region’s Ivanivka and Henichesk districts and part of the Zaporizhzhia region – without drinking water,” Khlan wrote.

According to the Investigative Journalism Center, referring to the Kakhovka Main Canal Directorate’s employees, on November 30, 2022, all underground premises located below water level were flooded (these are four floors with a total height of 16 meters).

During November, Russian invades were continuously shelling the Kakhovka Main Canal, Liubymivka and Kakhovka from Tavriisk and Nova Kakhovka. Technically, it is very difficult to destroy or blow up the Kakhovka Main Canal’s structure. But, due to heavy shelling, a shutter of the fifth working machine exploded. Theoretically, this should not have damaged the canal’s working line. However, a blast wave could have destroyed one of pump chambers.

“Whatever the reason, the sealing of the base pumping station was broken, and its engine room was flooded with groundwater,” the Kakhovka Main Canal Directorate’s employees told.

Some electric motors located above the water level remained intact. However, if water is not pumped out of the engine room within a month, due to frost and high humidity, they will also fail and will be difficult to restore.

Photo: esu.com.ua

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