Rogue mines detonating in Black Sea following Kakhovka dam breach - border guards

Uncontrolled explosions of munitions driven by floodwater from the Kakhovka Reservoir downstream of the Dnipro River into the Black Sea along with the debris of destroyed buildings and garbage have been observed lately.

That’s according to a warning to citizens, issued by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, which urged Ukrainians not to remove any items from the water on their own.

"Our coast guard units have already repeatedly detected mines washed ashore. Therefore, as other state agencies do, I appeal to citizens – do not try to get these things out of the water on your own, especially explosive ones. Notify our bomb squads. We also record uncontrolled explosions that occur in the water area due to self-detonation of the explosives colliding with other objects," said SBGS spokesman Andriy Demchenko.

He added that border guards from Odesa, Kherson, and Berdyansk border detachments are involved in the rescue operations. Border guards deliver food, water, animal feed, and basic necessities to those affected by flood.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on the night of June 6, the Russian army blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam. In Kherson region, the evacuation of the local population from flood-struck areas and territories at risk is underway. Law enforcers have opened a criminal case into the dam breach under the “ecocide” article of the Criminal Code.

Ukrhydroenergo, the operator of Ukraine’s hydroelectric power plants, says the Kakhovka HPP has been completely destroyed and cannot be restored.

More than 3,000 people evacuated Kherson and Mykolaiv regions after the enemy blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam.