ISW explained why the Russians damaged the Kurakhiv reservoir.

Russian forces attacked the Kurakhiv reservoir dam

According to the information from the American Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces attacked the Kurakhiv reservoir dam to provoke floods to the west of it. This created problems for Ukrainian forces, which were surrounded by Russian forces to the north and south of Kurakhovo.

The Russian army is advancing from different directions towards the Kurakhiv direction, carrying out attacks to the northwest and north of Kurakhovo. The main goal is to advance to the southwest and south in order to encircle Ukrainian forces to the north of the Kurakhiv reservoir.

The dam of the Kurakhiv reservoir divides Ukrainian forces to the north and south of Kurakhovo, so Russian forces likely attacked the Ternivska dam to flood the settlements along the Vovcha River to the west of the reservoir and create an additional obstacle for Ukrainian forces.

Russian army attacks the Kurakhiv direction

Furthermore, the Russian army is conducting large-scale attacks on the Shakhtarske-Trudove-Antonivka lines to encircle Ukrainian forces to the south of Kurakhovo.

Currently, it is unknown what advantage the Russian forces gain from these actions, as the scale and duration of the floods are not yet determined. It should be noted that Russia denies any involvement in the dam destruction.

In the past, Russian occupying forces blew up the Kakhovska Hydroelectric Power Station, leading to significant destruction and flooding of local territories. Now Russia is taking similar actions in the Kurakhiv direction.

The Russian army successfully uses the capture of Vuhlehirsk to strengthen its positions to the south of Kurakhovo and support offensive operations in the western Donetsk region.