• lntl@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Is Russia capable of this? Yes.

    Is Ukraine capable of this? Yes.

    Could the US or China have done this covertly? Yes.

    Which one really did it? We’ll never know, but think about why you believe what you do from a story such as the one linked.

    • tookmyname@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      I agree with your sentiment. But I’m usually more suspicious of the invading force trying to annex huge regions of a sovereign country. The US, Russia, China are all imperialist in their own way. Russia is the invading force. And none of this would be happening if Russia was not there.

    • FuzzyDunlop@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      Which one really did it? We’ll never know

      Oh, we will, be reassured that we will find out eventually.

      Could the US or China have done this covertly? Yes.

      So this is what we find on Lemmy? A russian apologist as top post?

      First post and this is what I read. mmmkay “The USA or China could have destroyed this dam covertly”, right… The good old russian strategy of making you doubt everything you read. The goal of the russian propaganda is not to lie, the goal is to make you trust nothing, and specially not journalists.

      A quick look at your history and you constantly bash the Ukrainian resistance.

      • lntl@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Yikes! I dunno about that. I’m just saying that we should think critically about what we hear the media.

        • FuzzyDunlop@slrpnk.net
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          1 year ago

          “Think critically” you say? So where are your facts? Because thinking critically is all about the facts. You have brushed away all the facts and declared “We will never know”. So where are your facts?

          For example the russians had control of the dam, not the ukrainians. It’s just an example. What do you make of it? Come on, show us your “critical thinking”.

          • JillyB@beehaw.org
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            1 year ago

            The article was behind a paywall so apologies if this is covered:

            The dam sluices were Russian controlled but the dam is on the front line. It easily could have been attacked by either side. Both sides will see flooding but moreso the Russian side because it’s flatter. Breaching the dam will empty the canal providing much-needed water to Crimea. The lower water level upstream could threaten the safety of an offline nuclear plant upriver. I can’t tell which side controls the plant, so I’m not sure who that would affect more.

            Russia could have easily done this to distract Ukraine ahead of it’s counteroffensive and to make the river harder to cross. Also, Ukraine is likely more concerned about helping Ukrainians than Russia. But Ukraine could have done it for the reasons stated. We’re definitely still in the fog of war and it’s ignorant to assume we know all the details.

            • FuzzyDunlop@slrpnk.net
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              1 year ago

              The dam sluices were Russian controlled but the dam is on the front line. It easily could have been attacked by either side.

              Wrong, you don’t destroy a dam just like that. It takes preparation and a lot of explosives at the right points. This is not a Micahel Bay movies we’re talking about.

              Both sides will see flooding but moreso the Russian side because it’s flatter. Breaching the dam will empty the canal providing much-needed water to Crimea. The lower water level upstream could threaten the safety of an offline nuclear plant upriver. I can’t tell which side controls the plant, so I’m not sure who that would affect more.

              And Putin doesn’t care about all of that. He has proven it again and again.

              I can’t tell which side controls the plant

              Russia, They took control of the plant, which is illegal, all nations around the globe know perfectly that no army should take control of a civilian power plant. Every other army is trained to carefully avoid the nuclear power plants. For some reason Russia keeps ignoring the international laws.

              But Ukraine could have done it for the reasons stated.

              Nonsense, but keep trying

              We’re definitely still in the fog of war and it’s ignorant to assume we know all the details.

              Textbook Russian propaganda here -> “Nobody knows for sure”… Well, keep telling you that, nobody believes you west of Russia.

              The dam was under Russian control and they sabotaged it to slow down the Ukrainian counter offensive. It’s fine, Ukraine knew it was a possibility and they have plans accounting for it.

            • PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml
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              1 year ago

              The lower water level upstream could threaten the safety of an offline nuclear plant upriver.

              The plant is in the cold shutdown right now, so while it still need some water as cooling, the amount is way lower than in case of normal work, so even in the worst case of complete dam destruction it will not be affected as it is now.

              I can’t tell which side controls the plant, so I’m not sure who that would affect more.

              Currently Russia.

              Russia could have easily done this to distract Ukraine ahead of it’s counteroffensive and to make the river harder to cross.

              Problem is, nobody proven that offensive is even real, not to mention that it was prepared there. Currently the most intensive fights are being waged somewhere else. Also Russia recently hit at least two or three huge UA ammo depots which probably really did hampered any preparations. And the battle of Bakhmut was colossal meat grinder where regardless if we agree on exact numbers, Ukraine lost some of their best soldiers remaining (exactly those who would spearhead the offensive) and Russia lost mercenaries.

              Both sides will see flooding but moreso the Russian side because it’s flatter.

              Also basically all Russian defensive positions along the river were destroyed, countering the guy above on similar level i could say UA surely hit it because it will make their attack much easier when the flood lessens.

              Finally, UA already had plans for exactly that action last year, as they admitted to WaPo:

    • unnecessarily@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      It really comes down to which narrative you believe about the current state of the war (not which side you think is justified).

      If you believe the Russian propaganda, you think Russia’s control of Donbas is relatively solidified, Ukrainian forces are taking heavy losses and do not have the support of the population in the east. It makes sense for Ukraine to destroy the dam as an act of desperation in hopes that the disruption it causes will create an opening for them to exploit.

      If you believe the Ukrainian propaganda, the Russians have been taking heavy losses and the rumored counteroffensive which is right around the corner will drive them out once and for all. If this is true, it gives Russia motive to destroy the dam, as they fear it will soon fall into Ukrainian hands, and its destruction will impede Ukrainian troop movements.

      Personally, I tend to believe both narratives are heavily exaggerated, both sides are taking heavy losses, and that nobody is “winning” this stupid war anytime soon. But with how deeply both government/military narratives have penetrated basically all media, I’m not seeing any analysis of who benefits from this if no side is clearly winning.