Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The video footage has been verified.
A dramatic overnight drone assault has partially destroyed a key Russian dam in the Belgorod region, unleashing floodwaters that cut off Moscow’s forces near the Ukrainian border.
Officials in both countries reported that the attack caused widespread flooding and left several Russian brigades stranded on the wrong side of the river.
Videos of the damaged dam are circulating online, and the BBC has verified the footage.
Flooded positions
The strike hit the Belgorod Reservoir dam, located north of Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast.
By morning, water levels had dropped by around one metre, while floodwaters swept through Russian defensive positions along the Seversky Donets River.
Russian dugouts near Grafovka were reportedly submerged, and units from the 128th, 116th, 68th, and 136th brigades have become isolated following the strike.
The Ukrainian town of Vovchansk, near the river crossing, now faces Russian troops who have lost key logistical links.
Ukraine’s 16th Army Corps said on Sunday that the attack severely disrupted Russian supply lines.
“The main thing is that the enemy’s logistics have become significantly more complicated,” the corps stated, according to Express, adding that the onset of autumn has left Russian troops even more exposed.
Civilian evacuations
The flooding extended into Russian territory, prompting evacuations in the Shebekino district.
Local authorities confirmed that ten villages had been affected and that residents were being moved to safety as water levels continued to rise.
Russian emergency services have yet to provide an official assessment of the damage or an estimate of how long it might take to restore the dam.
Heavy Russian losses
Ukraine’s military claimed on Sunday that Russian forces had suffered 800 casualties in a single day, with air defence units reportedly downing 547 drones across the country.
According to data from Ukraine’s General Staff, total Russian losses since the start of the invasion have reached 1,137,690.
You can watch the footage of the destroyed dam on X here (opens new tab).
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation
