On October 26, the Ukrainian Armed Forces officially confirmed a strike on a dam near the village of Grafovka in Russia’s Belgorod region, close to the Ukrainian border. According to representatives from a Ukrainian UAV unit, the attack aimed to flood Russian military positions near the occupied town of Vovchansk in northern Kharkiv region.
The dam was damaged, resulting in the emergency release of water. Preliminary reports suggest the objective was partially achieved: water reached Russian positions and some military property was lost. While the full extent of losses remains unclear, even limited disruption to Russian logistics offers significant tactical advantages for Ukraine's forces.
Experts believe the decision regarding the scale of the dam’s destruction took into account advice from engineers and environmental specialists to prevent uncontrolled flooding of Ukrainian positions. If necessary, further actions targeting the structure may be considered.
The operation raises the risk of retaliatory Russian strikes on Ukrainian dams or infrastructure, similar to the previous destruction of the Kakhovka dam. However, experts emphasize that completely destroying large hydro facilities requires significant preparation and large quantities of explosives.
Ukrainian authorities and analysts are monitoring the situation, assessing possible further actions by both sides and evaluating the protection of Ukraine’s strategic energy and civil engineering facilities.
