The Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, commented on the situation regarding the destruction of the dam, which was blown up by Russian military forces near Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region. According to him, these actions pose a direct threat of a humanitarian disaster for the region.
This is reported by Finway
Scale of Destruction and Risks to the Population
Lubinets emphasized that the destruction of the hydraulic structure could provoke flooding of populated areas, damage to critical infrastructure elements, and the destruction of roads, bridges, and life-support systems. A significant portion of local residents risks losing their homes, and soil and water contamination poses an additional threat to human health and the preservation of ecosystems.
“Russia is once again deliberately creating a threat of humanitarian disaster. This time, the Russians published footage of the destruction of the dam near Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region,” he stated.
The Ombudsman also stressed that such actions by the Russians constitute a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law, as dams are under special protection, and their destruction is explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.
International Assessment and Previous Experience
Dmytro Lubinets reminded of the tragic consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station in 2023, which led to a large-scale ecological and humanitarian disaster. He appealed to the UN to record the fact of the dam’s destruction near Kostiantynivka and to provide a clear international legal assessment of the actions of the Russian Federation, emphasizing the need to hold the aggressor accountable.
It is known that on February 25, the Russian army blew up the dam in the village of Osikove, located north of Kostiantynivka. Analysts reported that the aggressor used a three-ton guided aerial bomb, resulting in water spreading to the Druzhkivka – Kostiantynivka highway. According to military personnel at the scene, the area near the road has turned into a complete swamp, making it impossible for vehicles to access.
Lubinets emphasized that impunity for such crimes only provokes new tragedies, and therefore the global community has no right to remain indifferent.