SSU Investigates North Crimean Canal Explosions

The SSU has established the chronology of crimes committed by the Russian armed forces against civilian population at key life support facilities in Kherson Region: Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and the North Crimean Canal.

Two Russian servicemen who gave the criminal orders have been identified.

These are the deputy commander of the russian Black Sea fleet for logistics major general Mikhail YASNIKOV and the commander of the 11th separate engineering brigade colonel Dmitriy MARKOV. These individuals directly commanded the capturing of Kakhovka HPP and the blow-up of the North Crimean Canal.

Their actions had a negative impact on water supply and functioning of the irrigation system in Kherson region, caused significant damage to the environment and particularly large economic losses to Ukraine.

Basing on the results of the SSU’s investigation, the russian commanders are suspected of violating laws and customs of war.

The investigation established that on February 24, servicemen of the russian armed forces, using heavy weapons:

• seized the administrative buildings and constructions at Kakhovka HPP and took personnel hostage;
• made it impossible for the HPP to function in a regular mode;
• destroyed the road bridge and cut off the facility from critical logistics;
• carried out a series of explosions of the constructions of the North Crimean Canal to release Dnipro water to the temporarily occupied Crimea.

The SSU identified that major general Yasnikov gave the orders to capture both infrastructure facilities, while colonel Markov was in charge of the explosions.

Criminal proceedings were initiated under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• 438.1 (violation of laws and customs of war);
• 28.2 (commitment of a criminal offence by a group of persons upon prior conspiracy).

The pre-trial investigation has been completed.

The indictment was sent to Zhovtnevyi District Court of Kryvyi Rih.

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The investigation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kherson Region under the procedural supervision of Kherson Region Prosecutor’s Office.