The Kremlin on Tuesday accused Kyiv of sabotaging the Kakhovka hydro-electric dam in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine to cut off a key source of water for Crimea and distract attention from a "faltering" counter-offensive against Russian forces.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the situation after water burst through the Soviet-era dam in the early hours.
"We can state unequivocally that we are talking about deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side," Peskov told reporters. "The Kyiv regime should bear full responsibility for all the consequences."
He said the destruction of the dam was intended to deprive Russian-controlled Crimea of the fresh water it receives from the reservoir via the North Crimean Canal, and to distract attention from the counter-offensive.
"Apparently, this sabotage is also connected with the fact that, having started large-scale offensive actions two days ago, now the Ukrainian armed forces are not achieving their goals - these offensive actions are faltering."
Asked about Ukrainian allegations that Russia had destroyed the dam, Peskov said: "We can strongly reject this. We officially declare that here we are definitely talking about deliberate sabotage from the Ukrainian side."
Peskov said the sabotage could "potentially have very serious consequences for several tens of thousands of residents of the region".
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
