Russian forces struck the Pechenihy Reservoir dam in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Sunday, prompting authorities to halt all traffic across the structure as emergency teams assess the damage, local officials said.
Oleksandr Husarov, head of the Pechenihy settlement, announced in a Telegram statement that as of 12:00 on Dec. 7, traffic on the roadway atop the dam had been “completely suspended” following the attack.
“We urge everyone to remain cautious and refrain from traveling toward the dam,” Husarov said, adding that engineers and emergency services are currently evaluating the extent of the damage and working to address the consequences.
The Pechenihy Reservoir is one of the region’s key hydro-engineering sites. It spans 86.2 square kilometers (33.3 sq. miles), stretches 65 kilometers (40 miles) in length, and varies in width from 300 to 3,000 meters (984 to 9,842 feet). Its maximum depth ranges from 4.5 to 20 meters (15 to 66 feet), and its catchment basin covers 8,400 square kilometers (3,243 sq. miles).
The dam is located near the settlement of Pechenihy, roughly 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of Kharkiv. The reservoir extends toward the Starytsia River, flowing through the Chuhuiv and Vovchansk districts. The area is surrounded by pine forests and includes numerous riverside communities such as Verkhnii and Staryi Saltiv, Prymorske, Bereznyky, Rubizhne, Martova, Metalivka, Khotomlia, Buhaivka, and Molodova.
Local authorities have reported no casualties so far. Structural experts are examining whether the strike compromised the dam’s integrity, while emergency crews continue working at the site.