Selenskyj advisor in BILD: Destruction of the dam will not stop the counter-offensive

For the Ukrainian government it is clear: Vladimir Putin’s (70) Russia destroyed the Kakhovka dam and thus triggered the massive flood disaster in eastern Ukraine.

BILD met Oleksiy Danilov (60), Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, for an interview. Danilov is one of the most important advisors to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (45).

He told BILD: Russia has been controlling the dam “since March last year and laid mines in September and October last year – and you can see what happened”.

In addition, only Russia benefits from the dam breach. Even if Crimea, occupied by Russia, is now facing massive water supply problems. “We need this dam safe and sound. Crimea will be ours and its water supply is very important to us,” said Danilov.

The Ukrainian to BILD: “Imagine how much it will cost to restore them – and what kind of environmental murder Russia is committing in this area.”

According to Danilov, the Russian army is adopting a new strategy: “They are resorting to such provocations because they cannot win by military means. And they also blackmail the world into saying they can do anything.”

For Danilov, the timing of the destruction is no coincidence: it is “at the beginning of our counteroffensive”. The water masses would turn the earth into a swamp and “it will be difficult for us to penetrate there”. This is “understandable for every logically thinking person”.

Explosive: According to Danilov, Ukraine was prepared for a possible destruction of the dam.

“In November last year, at the Commander-in-Chief’s headquarters, we already considered such a situation. We analyzed the consequences that would arise if the Russians did this. Therefore, we had several plans for our counter-offensive – and it would in no way affect the liberation of our country.”

The Zelenskyj adviser calls for a clear reaction from the West and he harshly criticizes the United Nations.

“Sometimes the level of cynicism goes beyond the scale – today the UN declared the International Day of the Russian Language,” said Danilov. He finally calls for clarity from “those in the West who have not yet decided where they stand”.