Zelensky ‘in shock’ over lack of aid for Ukraine dam disaster
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Rescuers evacuating residents from a flooded area in Kherson, Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday expressed dismay at a lack of help from the United Nations and Red Cross with the fallout from the destruction of the Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka dam.
“They are not there,” Mr Zelensky said in English, in an interview with Germany’s Bild daily, adding that he was “in shock because I think they are the forces who have to be there to save people’s lives”.
The destruction of the Russian-controlled hydro-electric dam
Officials have said thousands will have to leave their homes
Later in the interview, speaking in Ukrainian, Mr Zelensky said “people and animals have died” in the disaster, according to a German interpreter.
“From the roofs of the flooded houses, people see drowned people floating by,” he said.
It was difficult to get people out of the occupied Kherson region, he added.
“When our forces try to get them out, they are shot at by occupiers from a distance.”
Mr Zelensky said he had shared intelligence with Ukraine’s international partners a year ago
“We shared this information with our partners and all of them said yes, the risk is very high that the dam is going to be blown up,” he said.
Separately, Ukraine’s Prime Minister on Wednesday urged the UN, the International Red Cross and other bodies to act immediately to help residents of southern Ukraine receiving no help in flooded areas controlled by Russian occupying forces.
“The Russian occupiers don’t even make an effort to help these people, they have left them to perish,” Mr Denys Shmyhal said in English, in a video posted on Telegram, referring to the aftermath of the destruction of the dam.
“International humanitarian organisations, on behalf of the the government of Ukraine, I urge you: You must act immediately.
“We appeal to you to take charge of evacuating people from the territory of Kherson oblast occupied by Russia, we must save the lives of people whom the occupiers have condemned to death.”
Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said he will chair a meeting on Thursday of an emergency coordination panel with Ukraine on the “outrageous destruction” of the dam.
France has also said it will send aid to Ukraine. AFP
