The Latest Breaking News from Kherson

Catastrophe is also likely to fuel concerns about Moscow’s brinkmanship, if suspicions that Russia blew up the dam are proved

The destruction on Tuesday of the Kakhovka dam, near the town of Kherson, has been seen by some as strategic blow to Ukrainian counteroffensive plans that have been in the works for months. But crossing the Dnipro River is not the only way Ukraine can regain territories occupied by Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the flood-hit region of Kherson to evaluate the response to damage caused by the dam breach.

Five people are dead and about 600 square kilometres of the Kherson region in southern Ukraine is under water.

The Ukrainian president paints a bleak picture of destruction and says Russian forces are shooting at rescuers.

France is sending immediate aid to Ukraine after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, which caused flooding, forcing people to spend the night on roofs and trees, and cut off drinking water and irrigation for tens of thousands of people in the Russian-controlled Kherson region.

KHERSON, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the region flooded by the breached Kakhovka dam on Thursday, as Moscow-installed authorities said five people had been killed in the disaster.

Zelenskiy visits flood-affected region of Kherson after destruction of dam; at five people dead in occupied Kherson due to floods

Ukraine president says it is impossible to predict how many people will die in Russian-occupied areas as he appeals for assistance