Kakhovka HPP destruction cannot be investigated under occupation 

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya made the statement in a comment to journalists, Ukrinform reports.

"You can draw a logical conclusion that any investigation under the current conditions of occupation and the refusal of the occupation authorities to cooperate is impossible," he stressed.

Currently, Ukraine expects full cooperation from the occupation authorities in providing unimpeded access for the evacuation of people to international organizations such as the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

"Even their military are sitting in the trees waiting for evacuation. They don't even care about their own soldiers," Kyslytsya said.

When asked about the negotiations initiated by Turkish President Erdogan to form a commission of inquiry involving experts from both Ukrainian and Russian parties, the UN, and the international community, the Ukrainian representative suggested directing the question to Turkish diplomats.

"I think you'd better ask the Turkish mission or the Turkish representative how far they have progressed in these discussions - it's not decided from New York," Kyslytsya added.

What is the status of the investigation into the Kakhovka HPP destruction?

On June 6, Russian occupying forces blew up the Kakhovka HPP, completely destroying it.  The tragedy resulted in the flooding of settlements in the Kherson region, including Kherson city. There are also reports of flooding in Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, resulting in fish pestilence. Follow the detailed course of events here.

Following the incident, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the UK intelligence services were investigating Russia's involvement in the Kakhovka HPP destruction.

During a conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the latter proposed to establish a commission to investigate the explosion at the Kakhovka HPP. The commission would involve experts from Ukraine, Russia, the UN, and the international community. In his evening address on June 7, Zelenskyy mentioned the conversation with Erdogan, presenting it from a slightly different perspective.

In response to Turkey's proposal, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry pointed out that the UN mission to investigate the attack on the Olenivka detention facility, where Ukrainian prisoners of war were held, had been “quietly swept under the rug.”

In addition, the Ukrainian president discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron the needs for relief efforts and cooperation in investigating the circumstances of the HPP destruction.