Ukraine dam blast ‘probably a war crime,’ but not clear-cut. Here’s why

Ukraine and the ICC have been investigating alleged war crimes, and international law experts suggest another violation may have been committed with the dam’s destruction.

Ukrainian officials are warning the country could face “years” of damage due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam last week.

Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for blast, which has resulted in flooding that has destroyed towns, claimed lives and ruined drinking water and irrigation systems.

Ukraine and the International Criminal Court have been investigating alleged war crimes since the full-scale conflict began on Feb. 24, 2022, and international law experts suggest another violation may have been committed with the dam’s destruction.

“It seems clear to me that this was a significant structure that was not blown up by accident,” said Chris Waters, a professor with the faculty of law at the University of Windsor.

“International humanitarian law prohibits causing damage to the environment, which is widespread, severe and long term, and it’s pretty clear that this attack and the forces it’s released have will have widespread long term and severe consequences.”

The Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River was destroyed on June 6.

It lies in a part of the Kherson region occupied by Moscow’s forces for the past year. Ukraine holds the western bank of the Dnieper, while Russia controls the eastern side, which is lower and more vulnerable to flooding.

Ukraine Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malier alleged that Russia blew up the dam to prevent Kyiv’s troops from advancing in the southern Kherson region. Ukrainian officials confirmed over the weekend its long-awaited counteroffensive had begun.