Russia is trying to seize Kharkiv Oblast despite ongoing peace negotiations. It shows no regard for the number of civilian casualties its goals may cause, including the ecological and humanitarian disaster that it could unleash if it succeeds in its latest objective — destroying the Pechenihy Reservoir dam, which supplies 70% drinking and technical water to Kharkiv, a city of a million people, Focus reports.
For a long time, Russia has systematically attacked the facility with Shaheds, KAB glide bombs, ballistic missiles, Molniya drones, and FPV drones.
Russia's two-front war: bombs on Kharkiv, refugees on Europe
In this way, Moscow pursues its military goals in the Kharkiv Oblast: preventing Ukrainian forces from advancing and creating unbearable conditions for civilians.
At the same time, Russia’s information campaign is aimed at Western audiences, particularly US President Donald Trump. The Kremlin wants to create the illusion that it is capable of “capturing Ukrainian cities” to increase pressure on international negotiations.
Article 52 of the Geneva Conventions prohibits this
On the afternoon of 7 December, Russia struck the settlement of Pechenihy with a ballistic missile, and later it became known that the dam of one of the largest reservoirs in Ukraine had been damaged.
Later, Russian troops launched another strike on the facility. Traffic across the dam in the Pechenihy community has been temporarily suspended. The roads T-21-11 (Chuhuiv – Pechenihy – Velykyi Burluk) and T-21-04 (Kharkiv – Vovchansk – Chuhunivka checkpoint) have been closed.
“As a result of the attack, damage has been recorded. Specialists are assessing the situation and working on eliminating the consequences,” said community head Oleksandr Husarov.
Teams responsible for maintaining transport accessibility and detour routes are working in parallel.
Earlier, the dam of the Pechenihy Reservoir had already been shelled: in 2022, Russian forces damaged its upper sluice.
The 16th Army Corps report, “Attempts to destroy the dam have no military justification, and the strikes against it are an indiscriminate attack on a civilian object, which is directly prohibited by Article 52 of Additional Protocol I" to the Geneva Conventions.
A strike on the Pechenihy Dam may be considered a war crime, as it poses a threat to populated areas, endangers thousands of lives, and could cause a humanitarian catastrophe.
Damage to the dam could lead to flooding, and in winter to the formation of ice. The Kremlin does not hesitate to accept casualties or environmental consequences in pursuit of its goals.
What are the military motives behind the dam attack? Experts explain
In September, Russia publicly acknowledged its intent to advance into Kharkiv Oblast. The Russian military outlined an ambitious multi-directional advance strategy contingent on securing Kupiansk.
According to the Ministry of Defense statement, Russian forces “intend to leverage the seizure of Kupiansk to attack further into eastern Kharkiv Oblast in several directions simultaneously, including toward Chuhuiv (west of Kupiansk), Izium (southwest of Kupiansk), and Vovchansk (northwest of Kupiansk).”
Yurii Fedorеnко, commander of the 429th “Achilles” UAV Regiment, says that the attack on the Pechenihy Dam in Kharkiv Oblast is a part of Russian strategy to seize the city of Vovchansk and influence US President Donald Trump, per 24 Channel.
“It is critically important for the enemy to cut off our ability to logistically supply the grouping of forces defending the city of Vovchansk and the state border with the Russian Federation," he explained.
The reservoir extends from Pechenihy to the Starytsia River, which flows through the Chuhuiv and Vovchansk districts of Kharkiv Oblast.
Vovchansk has already been turned into ruins by Russian forces, adds Victor Trehubov, as per RBC-Ukraine. Some occupier units are infiltrating the city, which has been strictly monitored by Ukrainian drones from above. This is happening because of the weather, which has been limiting the capabilities of technology.
“For the enemy, capturing the city of Vovchansk is one of the key priorities, because an information campaign has already been launched, aimed at one viewer, the US president, who is not very familiar with the geography,” Fedorenko said.
The Institute for the Study of War also shares this view, writing that Russian strikes on the dam
are likely aimed at weakening Ukrainian ground lines of communication that supply the Vovchansk, Velykyi Burluk, and Kupiansk directions.
Meanwhile, Yevhen Dykyi, veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war and chief of the National Antarctic Scientific Center, speaking on Radio NV, said that the strikes are "no longer random" or those that can be regarded as isolated hits.
"This is a campaign aimed at draining our civilian infrastructure,” Dykyi believes.
He added that the Russian attack on the Pechenihy Dam may have been aimed at influencing the civilian population of the surrounding territories, especially Kharkiv, rather than military forces.
“This is two things at once. I would not underestimate the logistical importance of this dam… There could be a localized humanitarian catastrophe for all communities adjacent to the reservoir,” Dykyi stressed.
Ivan Tymochko, head of the Council of Reservists of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, speaking on “Suspilne. Studio, said that "the destruction of the dam means the flooding of a large area and, in winter, freezing, creating logistical problems, not so much for the military as for civilians."
He added that damage to the dam would significantly slow the movement of Russian forces if they attempt an offensive in that sector of the front. He emphasized that such actions are not a new strategy of the Russian army, as it simply seeks to inflict maximum damage on Ukraine and its population.
The Kremlin is not deterred by environmental or humanitarian consequences
This is not the first time Russia has blown up Ukrainian dams for its military objectives. On the morning of June 6, 2023, Russia blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station, which was crucial for water supply, energy stability, and cooling for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe.
A four-meter wall of water swept away everything in its path. The destruction exposed lakebed sediment containing more than 90,000 tons of dangerous heavy metals, a toxic mixture that had accumulated on the reservoir floor since 1956. However, the aggressor has not faced justice for the ecocide, which means that such crimes may continue.
