Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko informed about the work of the headquarters for the elimination of the consequences of the occupiers’ blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

According to the Minister, several working meetings have already been held with the participation of Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, heads of military administrations and local authorities.

“Rescue services, police and volunteers are working around the clock to evacuate people from flooded towns and villages. A total of 29 settlements have been flooded, of which 19 are on Ukrainian-controlled territory and 10 are under temporary occupation. More than 1,560 people have been evacuated. Overnight, the water in Kherson rose by 1 metre and is expected to continue rising throughout the day,” the Minister said.

He added that almost 1,600 rescuers and police officers and about 300 units of special equipment were working in the region. The number of aid stations will be increased if necessary.

“I have instructed to assess the environmental threat. We need to understand the situation with landfills, cemeteries, fertiliser depots and mine safety. And we must do everything to make our people feel that there is a government and help,” said Ihor Klymenko.

The meeting also heard reports from the heads of Mykolaiv, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia regional military administrations on the laying of water pipelines, the installation of wells and the prevention of drinking water shortages. The Minister recalled that UAH 1.5 billion had been allocated from the Recovery Fund for the construction of two new water mains.