At the Kurakhove Reservoir, where water is rising below the damaged Ternivska dam, no flooded houses have been recorded so far. However, due to constant Russian shelling, it has not yet been possible to inspect the hydraulic structure.
This was stated by the head of the Kurakhove City Military Administration, Roman Padun.
“We have not managed to go out and inspect this dam. Water continues to rise below the Ternivska dam. I have been in contact with colleagues. There is no critical situation, and no houses are flooded yet,” he said.
According to the head of the Military Administration, Russian forces have attempted to damage the dam for three months, but there is no threat of a complete water release from the reservoir.
“It may be partially damaged, possibly one of the sluice gates, as the enemy has been trying to hit the dam with bombs (KABs) for the past three months,” Padun noted.
He also explained that the dam's design allows it to maintain a certain water level even if damaged.
“The dam is built in such a way that the entire water surface of the reservoir cannot drain. There is a critical water level that can drain, and there is a level that remains,” he added.
On November 11, Russian forces destroyed the Ternivska dam of the Kurakhove Reservoir. Depending on the extent of the dam's damage, there was a reported risk of partial flooding of settlements located downstream along the Vovcha River.
Analysts from the DeepState project reported that Russia continues to implement a large-scale plan to encircle Kurakhove. The Russians are advancing from the flanks and increasing pressure from new directions, aiming to cut off the logistical routes of Ukraine's Defense Forces.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that Russian forces may have struck the Kurakhove Reservoir dam to cause significant and prolonged flooding to the west, which would facilitate Russia's efforts to encircle Ukrainian forces to the north and south of Kurakhove.
