If a country wants to flood a downstream area, it can simply open the dam it controls, instead of destroying it. Just like it can close a pipeline instead of destroying it.
“If a country wants to flood a downstream area, it can simply open the dam it controls”
But that won’t cause the kind of catastrophic damage that destroying the dam can cause.
This is a scorched earth tactic where the Russians have ruined the area and they’ve even ruined their water supply for Crimea. It’s the kind of thing the Germans did when they were retreating in both directions during WW2.
Meaning it’s an act of desperation. Russia is losing this war and they’re shifting gears for an endgame.
“If a country wants to flood a downstream area, it can simply open the dam it controls, instead of destroying it.”
Sure, but then they would not be able to try to blame the other side for the flooding.