Russia's discontent with war in Ukraine grows due to Kakhovka hydroelectric power station explosion - ISW

This was stated by analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The group of current and former Russian officials call on the Russian forces to return to the “universally” recognized Russian borders due to the crisis caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam. 

These are representatives of the municipal authorities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as the Moscow and Leningrad regions of the Russian Federation.

They signed an open letter calling on Russian forces, stating that the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam would affect the planet's ecosystem, health and economy for many decades, the publication said.

The letter stated that the actions of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin since February 24, 2022, i.e. since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, had led to "unspecified catastrophic events."

At the same time, the reason for the withdrawal of Russian troops was not given as the continuation of Russian military efforts to seize Ukraine, which Moscow calls "the SMO."

According to ISW experts, Russian officials not linked to the Kremlin may be using public discontent over the environmental and humanitarian situation associated with the destruction of the hydroelectric dam to express disagreement with the war against Ukraine without directly criticizing the military actions themselves.

“The Kremlin has widely set the conditions for crackdowns against anti-war dissent. Russians who hold anti-war sentiments may use the destruction of the KHPP to voice their opposition to the war in a very limited fashion,” the report says.

• On June 6, Russian occupation forces blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, completely destroying it. As a result of the tragedy, settlements in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions were flooded. For a detailed account of the events, click here.