EU Commissioner claims problems with collecting evidence of Russian involvement in Kakhovka HPP destruction

EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders shared the information with Ukrinform.

According to him, there is no direct access to the territories where the tragedy occurred, as they are under the control of the Russian army. The EU does not have "any real intelligence capacity," so the work continues on the basis of the data received from member states, the European Commissioner emphasized. A request for intelligence has also been sent to American partners.

"My reaction in the morning of that event was to have a phone call with Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin. I have listened very carefully. He said it was not the bombing. So it was possibly an explosion of the mines in the dam due to the Russian presence there," the European Commissioner said.

He noted that the involvement of Russians in the explosion is logical, but the investigation needs to have solid evidence to bring Russia to justice.

The European Commissioner also emphasized the importance of parallel investigations by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and the International Criminal Court, which are currently underway.

Acknowledging the problem with collecting evidence from the crime scene, Reynders noted that there are other methods of obtaining such evidence, including intelligence and information from research institutions that could have recorded the explosion using special equipment.

Kakhovka HPP explosion

Kakhovka HPP has been occupied by Russians since February 24, 2022.

On October 20, 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was preparing to stage a new large-scale terrorist attack - to blow up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in the Kherson region. At the same time, he listed other consequences of the Kakhovka HPP explosion. Later, the head of the Kherson City Military Administration, Halyna Luhova, addressed residents in connection with Russia's preparation of a terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP. She published an algorithm of actions to be taken in the event of a dam blowing up at the reservoir.

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, Russian occupying forces blew up the Kakhovka HPP, completely destroying it. Evacuation of residents of dangerous areas began, and the President of Ukraine convened an emergency meeting of the Security and Defense Council. More details on how the situation developed on the morning of June 6 can be found here. 

The US is closely studying the evidence in the case of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant explosion.