Ukraine talk by Maybrit Illner
“There will be casualties now”
By Marko Schlichting
06/09/2023 03:28 am
A terrible natural disaster threatens the destroyed Kachowka Dam. But at the same time, the Ukrainian army may have started its long-awaited major offensive. In the ZDF talk show Maybrit Illner, the guests talked about the situation in Ukraine on Thursday evening.
The situation at the destroyed Kakhovka dam in Ukraine is still unclear. But one thing is clear: a natural disaster of unprecedented proportions is imminent. But apparently the Ukrainian soldiers are not discouraged by this. There are many indications that the army’s long-awaited offensive has begun. The guests on the ZDF talk show Maybrit Illner talked about the current situation on Thursday.
The images from the region around Cherson only give an idea of the extent of the destruction caused by the blown up Kakhovka dam. In the area, part of the breadbasket of Ukraine, nothing will be able to grow for many years. Because the arable land is swept away by the floods.
In addition, Ukrainian television warns in the evening that the reservoir no longer carries enough water to cool the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, 150 kilometers away. Artificial pools at the power plant still carry enough cooling water, but it is unclear for how long. The nuclear power plant controlled by Russia is no longer connected to the grid. Nevertheless, the fuel in the reactor cores and in the reservoir must be constantly cooled. If it gets too hot, there is a risk of a core meltdown, and radioactivity would be released.
AKW for many the smallest problem
However, the people in the Cherson region have other acute problems. You have to flee from the water masses. In many places there is no electricity and there is a lack of drinking water. According to political scientist Christian Mölling, there is also a risk of epidemics. Lots of animal carcasses are floating in the water, and in some villages cemeteries have been washed away.
In the case of Maybrit Illner, Mölling also points out the military scope of the explosion: Russia apparently intended to blow up the dam at a later date. Explosives and mines are floating in the water, which could pose a danger to people.
Mölling believes that Russia is responsible for the destruction of the dam. But he is surprised by the timing of the explosion. He explains: “There are some theses that state that it was either a premature blast or a hole was created that was not wanted to be of this size.” In his opinion, this is supported by the fact that the Russian army has not brought its own people or its own material to safety beforehand. “Militaries actually love controlled actions. What happened here wasn’t very controlled. There are many indications that it shouldn’t happen on the scale we’re seeing now,” says Mölling.
“There is nothing to be said for Ukraine as the perpetrator”
Liana Fix also believes that Russia is responsible for the dam blast. The political scientist, who works for the Körber Foundation, reports on relevant information from US secret services. “Overall, Washington tends to see Russia behind this dam collapse,” she says at Maybrit Illner. However, there is still no 100% proof of this. “It’s something that suits Russian warfare.”
Green leader Omid Nouripour agrees: “Chancellor Scholz also speaks of a new dimension in Putin’s warfare, and I very much agree with him,” he says. “Nothing speaks in favor of Ukraine as the perpetrator, neither feasibility nor motivation. Everything indicates that the Kremlin bears responsibility.” For the Russian President Putin, it is about setting brute symbols. His goal is to scare people in Ukraine and in the West.
“But Putin gambled away his cards too early,” says Liana Fix. Already at the beginning of the war he threatened a nuclear attack, but everyone knew that it was a bluff. Fighter jets are now involved, “and the Biden administration does not show an overly concerned reaction if Ukraine sends drones to Russia.” In the meantime, even China has warned Putin against using nuclear weapons, “and this is a partner that is more important to Putin than the West.”
Ukrainian offensive probably started
Meanwhile, according to Mölling, the Ukrainian offensive has begun. “You can see a sharp increase in military activity for several days.” The Ukrainian army is daring to approach the Russian positions more closely. “But that’s certainly not the main offensive, but the attempt to find out where what’s going on,” says Mölling. Fighting can currently be seen near the town of Bakhmut and in two places east of Zaporizhia. Ukraine probably has several plans and will now respond to Russian resistance.
But Mölling also has bad news. He knows: “There will now be casualties. And we will see Western combat material that breaks down. It will be a huge battle of material.”