Zelensky says 80 towns are "underwater" after the dam's destruction, which he blames on Russia

"It was a deliberate explosion. They knew exactly what they were doing," he says.

MADRID, 6 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski has blamed Russian troops for destroying with explosives the New Kajovka Dam in the Jerson region and warned that some 80 localities are already "under water" for what he described as "the biggest environmental disaster provoked by Europe in decades."

Zelenski has participated electronically in a meeting of leaders of the countries of Eastern Europe, before which he has once again pointed out to the "Russian terrorists" the destruction of a plant that forces loyal to Moscow had controlled for more than a year .

"It is physically impossible to blow it up in this way from abroad, through bombing. Mines were laid," said the Ukrainian president, who has also ruled out the hypothesis of accident or negligence. "It was a deliberate explosion. They knew exactly what they were doing," he stressed.

Some 100,000 people lived in the area at risk before the Russian invasion and Zelensky fears that "tens of thousands" are now at risk. His government has begun evacuation work in the face of the "initial consequences" of this incident.

The water reserves were also a vital source for the supply of drinking water, as well as for agricultural and livestock production, to which would also be added the consequences of an environmental nature. kyiv has already confirmed the spill of 150 tons of motor oil.

"Russia has detonated a bomb of massive environmental destruction. It is a true ecocide," Zelensky has proclaimed, who sees in the final defeat of the Russian forces "the most significant contribution" that can be made to the security not only of the region but of "everyone".

In this sense, the Ukrainian president has appreciated the political support and has advocated continuing to delve into the military, with an anti-missile shield and a new coalition that allows Ukraine to have modern fighters.

For Zelensky, it is time to show that "there is no weakness in Europe", so he expects some kind of practical gesture at the NATO leaders' summit to be held in July in Lithuania, for example with an invitation to join and guarantees clear on security.