Russia’s Belgorod Reservoir dam damaged in suspected Ukrainian strike, satellite images show

Satellite imagery suggests the dam at Russia's Belgorod Reservoir was damaged on July 19 in what appears to be a Ukrainian strike, Meduza reports, relaying analysis from the Belgorod-based outlet Pepel. According to that analysis, a spillway section roughly thirty meters long was breached, with water pouring through unchecked, and the road along the dam's crest was compromised as well. Downstream, the Nezhegol River has begun to rise, and beaches in the town of Shebekino are already flooded. The dam was damaged once before, in the fall of 2025, when repairs reportedly took five days, but Pepel believes this damage is more serious.

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