Lithuanian president calls Ukraine dam explosion a Russian 'crime of war'

Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda said on Tuesday the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was a war crime for which Russia must be held accountable. He did not offer evidence that Russia was responsible for the destruction. "Today we witness an unprecedented Russian attack against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure", Nauseda tweeted. Russia must be held accountable for it", he said.

Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda said on Tuesday the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was a war crime for which Russia must be held accountable. He did not offer evidence that Russia was responsible for the destruction.

"Today we witness an unprecedented Russian attack against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure", Nauseda tweeted. "The destruction of a major dam is a crime of war that directly threatens thousands of people. Russia must be held accountable for it", he said. "And Ukraine must win this war to stay safe!"

Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the dam from the inside in a deliberate war crime. Russian-installed officials gave conflicting accounts, some blaming Ukrainian shelling, others saying the dam had burst on its own due to earlier damage.