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Ukrainian rescuers frantically ferrying civilians out of eastern towns that flooded after last week’s dam destruction are taking heavy fire from Russian snipers.
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6 submerged dozens of Ukrainian towns along the lower Dnieper River, but resident and evacuees said Russia has done nothing to help stranded Ukrainians in the territory it holds.
Instead, rescue boats sent from the Ukraine-held side of the river have become targets for Moscow’s marksmen and drones.
Some evacuees said they were even forced to show Russian passports if they wanted to leave the Russian-occupied flooded areas.
“The Russian Federation provided nothing. No aid, no evacuation. They abandoned people alone to deal with the disaster,” said Yulia Valhe, who was evacuated from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky. “I have my friends who stayed there, people I know who need help. At the moment I can’t do anything except to say to them, ‘Hold on.’”
At least 150 have been rescued from Russian-occupied areas by Ukrainian forces, government spokesperson Oleksandr Tolokonniv said.
Meanwhile, nearly 2,750 were evacuated from flooded regions controlled by Ukraine, although rescue efforts have been made treacherous due to Russian attacks, he added.
“We will surely do everything we can, but we also cannot expose our people to danger,” Tolokonnikov said.
