russia has made a new statement about the Kyiv HPP: what is the danger?
12 July 2024 18:18
Russia has accused Ukraine of preparing to destroy the dams of the Kyiv hydroelectric power station and the Kaniv reservoir. This statement was made on 12 June by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, reports [Kommersant].
“The Kyiv regime is launching a cynical provocation against its population related to the destruction of the dams of the Dnipro reservoirs in order to blame Russia,” Zakharova said during a briefing.
The news quickly spread across the Ukrainian information space and sparked debate. For example, Ukrainian journalist Andriy Tsaplienko suggested that the Russians had already planned to carry out such attacks.
“After all, before the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, propagandists also shouted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would blow up the dam,” Tsaplienko wrote.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine reported that this statement is “part of the disinformation operation “Peace”, which aims to allegedly blur the Ukrainian Peace Formula in the information space of the West, the Global South and Ukraine. They also reported that with such statements, the Kremlin is trying to cause panic among Ukrainians, as well as spreading narratives about the need for “peace at any cost”.
The Centre for Countering Disinformation also urged Ukrainians not to panic and assured them that the Kyiv HPP was securely protected.
“It is impossible to destroy these facilities with missile strikes, and the option of sabotage is excluded, as the dams are under heavy security,” the agency said.
What is known about the Kaniv reservoir, about which the enemy made a statement
The Kaniv Reservoir is a source of water for almost 1 million residents of Kyiv, the energy sector and agricultural land.
This reservoir is the youngest in the cascade of reservoirs created on the Dnipro River. It was filled with water in 1974-1976. The backwater from the Kanivska hydroelectric power station (HPP) extends to the Kyivska HPP. The Kaniv reservoir covers an area of 675 km² and contains about 2.63 km³ of water. It is approximately 123 km long and has a maximum width of 8 km. The maximum depth is 21 m.
The reservoir dam is located east of Kaniv. It consists of the Kaniv hydroelectric power station and a sluice gate. The dam was built between 1972 and 1978 and is 16 km long.
The Kaniv Reservoir is a reservoir for the operation of the Kaniv HPP. In addition, the reservoir is connected to the activities of other energy companies – Trypillia TPP and the projected Kanivska PSPP.
