US spy satellites detect explosion just before Kakhovka HPP dam collapse

The New York Times reported this, referring to a senior Biden administration official. 

“The official said that satellites equipped with infrared sensors detected a heat signature consistent with a major explosion just before the dam collapsed, unleashing huge floodwaters downstream,” the publication writes. 

US intelligence analysts suspect that Russia was behind the destruction of the dam, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity. But he added that US intelligence agencies still do not have any conclusive evidence of those responsible.

An administration official did not rule out the possibility that previous damage to the dam or rising water pressure may have contributed to the collapse, but US officials believe an explosion, whether intentional or accidental, was the most likely cause, according to the publication. 

• 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.

• On June 9, Ukraine's Security Service releases intercepted call proving that Russia blew up Kakhovka HPP. 

• More news about the situation related to the Kakhovka HPP explosion can be found here.