It is 29 August, 1941. The SovietRelating to the Soviet Union, a powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991. Red ArmyOver four million German soldiers were killed fighting the Soviet Army between 1941 and 1945. Russian casualties are estimated at close to 11 million. retreats as their dynamite blows up the infamous "LeninA Russian communist revolutionary and first head of the Soviet Union who rose to prominence during Russia's 1917 revolution. dam" at ZaporizhzhiaA city in eastern Ukraine., releasing a vast wave of water which kills as many as 100,000 (Ukrainian) civilians in the hope of slowing the NaziA German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II. invasion.

The Lenin Dam, or Dnipro Dam, was a monument to Soviet power and a precious symbol which some grieved as passionately as the high human cost. But MoscowThe capital city of Russia. was determined to pursue its so-called "Nothing for Germany" policy, sacrificing its own treasures to prevent them from falling into Nazi hands.¹

History repeats itself. In August, Ukrainians will mark the 82nd anniversary of the day "the Dnipro turned red". But now, there is a new toll.

Floods have swallowed parts of southern Ukraine after the Nova Kakhovka dam in the Kherson region suffered catastrophic breaches earlier this week. The dam is under the control of the Russian military and, as such, nobody knows for sure what caused it to collapse.

The effects are numerous. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from huge areas of Ukraine. The KremlinA central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel. has claimed that the breach may deprive the residents of CrimeaA peninsula in southern Ukraine that was seized by Russian forces in 2014 and annexed to the larger country. - which has been under Russia's control since 2014 - of water.

It also signals an expansion of the war beyond the parameters of either Russia or Ukraine. The flood waters, which will pick up agrochemicals, oil products and other contamination will eventually flow into the Black SeaA sea between Europe and Asia, with coastline in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania. , putting the countries on its coast - Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Bulgaria - at risk too.

And while experts have assessed that there is no immediate nuclear safety risk, that could change in the future.²

Russia has denied any involvement, pointing out that the breach forced them to evacuate their own civilians and soldiers away from Kherson. Since Kherson was liberated by Ukrainian troops in November, it has been the focus of incessantSomething harmful or annoying that never seems to stop. attacks by Russian forces.

But many say the timing is just a little too auspiciousFavourable or promising. to be coincidental. Ukraine is set to launch a summer counteroffensive on territories captured last year, and was expected to dodge Russian fortifications by going west, a move now far more tricky due to the "accidental" flooding.

Nor would it be a new tool in Russia's box. Last year, Moscow was blamed for unexplained explosions on the Nord StreamAn offshore natural gas pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. pipeline. Could clipping the largest nuclear power plant in Europe be an unspoken threat?

Regardless, the destruction of the dam is one of the most significant damages to Ukraine's infrastructure since the beginning of the war. Meanwhile, the ecological effects are being described as "the worst environmental disaster in Ukraine since ChernobylThe disaster, in 1986, involved a meltdown at a nuclear plant in Ukraine.". It could have serious implications for the future of the conflict.

But some say this is just another Russian tantrum. Ukrainian forces and Russian military bloggers alike have noted Ukraine's successes on the front line. Its coming counteroffensive is likely a worrying prospect for Putin, who seems continually thwarted in his grand plans.

Yes: This will at least stall Ukraine's counteroffensive, and gives Russia an edge on their side of the river. If Russia did this, it was certainly a daring move, but one which will pay off.

No: If anything, this should reveal the extent of Putin's fears. His own military commanders are turning against him, complaining of Ukraine's impressive advancements on the front line. Desperate times call for desperate measures from a desperate man.

Or... This benefits nobody. It will weaken morale in Crimea, which Ukraine will almost certainly try to regain at some point. It contaminates the Black Sea, which Russia also borders. It will cause unprecedented environmental disaster.

Soviet - Relating to the Soviet Union, a powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991.

Red Army - Over four million German soldiers were killed fighting the Soviet Army between 1941 and 1945. Russian casualties are estimated at close to 11 million.

Lenin - A Russian communist revolutionary and first head of the Soviet Union who rose to prominence during Russia's 1917 revolution.

Zaporizhzhia - A city in eastern Ukraine.

Nazi - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.

Moscow - The capital city of Russia.

Kremlin - A central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel.

Crimea - A peninsula in southern Ukraine that was seized by Russian forces in 2014 and annexed to the larger country.

Black Sea - A sea between Europe and Asia, with coastline in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania.

Incessant - Something harmful or annoying that never seems to stop.

Auspicious - Favourable or promising.

Nord Stream - An offshore natural gas pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.

Chernobyl - The disaster, in 1986, involved a meltdown at a nuclear plant in Ukraine.