I just watched a video of the dam that blew, as well as satellite photos.
Although I’ve heard this nowhere, it is obvious what happened.
The Russians had heavily mined the waters above the dam to stop the Ukrainians from crossing.
The water levels in the lake were the highest ever. For some reason the Russians were not opening the gates allowing the water levels to be stable.
They finally opened the gates and the high water level combined with the increased current when they opened the gates caused the mines from the lake to break loose and drift into the dam, exploding and destroying the dam.
In the video I watched after the dam had blown, there were a series on continuous underwater explosions at the dam as additional mines continued to drift into the dam and explode.
It was Russian stupidity that blew up the dam!
If even remotely true, could we expect to see Putin replacing military leadership in the area?
Simple stupidity does rule the world, so I would not completely rule out your explanation. However, mines are anchored with steel cables and are unlikely to drift anywhere because of increased current and higher water levels. If specially trained individuals swam under the water and cut the cables then maybe, but then the mines would be floating at the surface. Did you see any mines floating at the surface in the videos that you watched? The devil is always in the details.
From the article that this thread is based on...
According to a report from The Washington Post in late December, a Ukrainian military officer suggested blowing up the dam could be a means for a last resort.”
More like it was American Stupidity that blew up the dam.
The most plausible explanation so far.
“The Russians had heavily mined the waters above the dam to stop the Ukrainians from crossing.”
Correct; and also the south shore line has areas of dense land mines.
The water levels in the reservoir were high because the Ukes hoarded large amounts of water in the upriver dams they controlled, then began a massive release in concert with blowing the dam, to add to the pressure and volume of flooding. This operation began about Feb when the Russians began to complain water from upstream was not being released. By May the Ukes had topped up their dams and began to release large flows ov water downstream.
It was a plan.
The fact that this dam was, shall we say, severely compromised within 72 hours of Uke launching its “ counteroffensive” is not a coincidence.
Today despite the flooding..the Ukes continue large water releases to increase flooding.
Draw your own conclusions.
The Russian military assessment is that the Ukes blew the dam now ( a plan they practiced since last year and which the Russians reported to the UN, seeking investigation and prevention) is to provide an excuse to withdraw some of their own forces from Kherson to send them to battle further north. Where things are not going as well as the Fellas report, and where more meat is required for human wave supported infantry attempted attacks.
The flooding prevents the Russians from moving back into Kherson to take advantage.
The flooding also disrupts the Russian echeloned defense system of trenches and mines Surovikin prepared on the Dnieper left bank since last fall after evacuating forces from Kherson.
In several weeks, as the flooding dissipates, lower water levels while still swampy, could enable the Ukes to cross the Dnieper and go on offense to the east, to try and attack Melitopol, restore access to the Sea of Azov, and cutoff Crimea…..Moving quickly before the Russians can restore their defenses. The Ukes have been reported staging bridging and crossing equipment ( no comment on the odds of success landing on the other bank under Russian artillery and air defense)
Remember both sides nazi now NATO, and Russian, have fought previous huge battles of the Dnieper and learned lessons. And both used dam destruction/ flooding water in military operations. The Russians in 1941, the Germans in 1943.
( sources multiple)
https://twitter.com/1945Luxemburg/status/1666025523816833024
The water level in the Kakhovka reservoir was artificially raised from 14 to 17.5 m shortly before the explosion and flooding, according to the French monitoring portal Theia-land.
Kiev is discharging water the Dnieper hPS to increase the flood area after of the Kakhovka PS
https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1666383007773540352
The water gates of Dnepro Hydroelectric Power Station upstream from Kakhovka are still fully open!
-> Ukraine is not interested in slowing down the flood ...
https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1666024311331667969
Since the explosion, the water level in the reservoir does not fall, but ... on the contrary, it GROWS as in the video.
-> This means, Ukraine is doing everything to destroy the dam fully and flood the area. They channel more water to the broken dam to increase the pressure.
Whomever did committed a war crime against civilians:
https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1666856094399070209