Early in the morning of October 25, the Ukrainian army launched a precise strike on a local reservoir dam with U.S.-made "Himas" long-range rocket guns. Causing damage to dams and soaring water levelsThe threat of flooding quickly spread to many villages downstream, and more than 1,000 residents were evacuated.
Just a day later, Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly announced at a defense conference, Russia successfully test-fired a "unique in the world" nuclear-powered cruise missileWhy did the Ukrainian army suddenly hit the dam in the Russian territory?
On October 25, Governor Gradkov issued an emergency notification on social platforms, saying that the Ukrainian army launched three GMLRS missiles, targeting the control system and technical equipment area of the reservoir dam. After the missile hit, the annex building of the dam collapsed, reinforced concrete fragments were scattered all over the ground, the drainage function of the reservoir was seriously damaged, and the water level began to rise slowly, with an increase of about 2 centimeters per hour.
From the scene images, the protective fence on the edge of the dam was blown up, and the control room became a pile of ruins. Although the main dam structure is still in place, the hydraulic control system has failed, and the reservoir is not able to flood normally.The risk of flooding in the downstream areas has risen rapidly, with the state government urgently deploying 23 buses to evacuate about 1,000 residents to six temporary settlements on the highlands.
In the evening of October 26, the Ukrainian army launched a second round of strike, again using the "Hymas" system for long-range bombardment, three rocket bombs hit the left side of the dam, causing 12 meters long, 3 meters wide cracks, leakage volume increased from 80 cubic meters per second to 320 cubic meters, and the water level of the reservoir dropped more than one meter.
Russian military sources showed that the three downstream villages of Shebekino, Novi Tavarzhyanka and Bereudovka were most seriously threatened by floods. As a result, some Russian troops lost contact with the rear and the supply line was temporarily interrupted.
This operation by Ukraine was not a temporary intention. Brovdi, commander of the Ukrainian unmanned systems unit, admitted that This operation is their carefully planned "dam breaking plan"The aim was to cut off the three transportation channels of the Russian army along the Sevilsk Donetsk River and, by creating a hydraulic crisis, to force the Russian army to pull back air defense forces and engineers from the frontline, thereby alleviating the pressure on the eastern front.
This strategy of "segmented strikes, accumulating small ones and causing disasters" is different from traditional military bombing. The Ukrainian army accurately attacks weaknesses many times, ultimately causing systematic damage to the dam and achieving its strategic goal.
Russia is extremely angry about this. Deputy Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the State Duma, Djulaflev, strongly called for the Russian military to retaliate with more vigorous means, not only to destroy Ukrainian power plants.It is also necessary to strike its hydropower plants, not even to rule out the use of intercontinental missiles "Chalk" and "Chalk" for a comprehensive strike on important facilities in Ukraine.
On October 26, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Russian military had deployed tactical air force, long-range missiles and attack drones to carry out precise strikes on 147 targets in Ukraine, focusing on energy facilities, drone warehouses, long-range drone workshops and frontline supply trains.
At the same time, the Russian "Central" Army Group completed the encirclement of the Red Army City and Dimitrov area, blocking about 5,500 Ukrainian soldiers; " The "West" Army Group has besieged about 5000 enemy troops, and 70% of the Volchansk Urban area has fallen into Russian control。
It is worth noting that at the time of this clash of military and infrastructure, Putin personally announced that the "Haiyan" nuclear-powered cruise missile completed all tests, the flight distance reached 14,000 kilometers, the flight time almost 15 hours, successfully circumvented the missile defense system.
The missile, driven by a liquid metal cooling reactor, can continue to fly at 80 meters below the sky at a speed of 0.8 Mach, with the potential to fly around the Earth in three circles, with a theoretical range of more than 140,000 kilometers.It integrates an AI trajectory adjustment system that can dynamically alter trajectory during flight, and has an infrared interference and induction release system, which can complete multiple serpentine movements before hitting the target, and the evasion capability is 47% higher than traditional missiles.
The Russian Strategic Missile Forces Commander said: “Haiyan” can carry 200,000 tons of equivalent nuclear or environmental warheads.The hybrid clouds of uranium-137 and uranium-131 released by the latter will exceed the radiation level of the target area 300 times in 48 hours.
The technological breakthrough of this missile not only marks a key step for Russia in the field of nuclear-powered weapons, but will also pose unprecedented strategic pressure on Western countries. Putin did not explicitly mention the attack on Belgorod Dam, but he pointed out that "new weapons will ensure the integrity of Russia's sovereignty and inviolability".
This statement undoubtedly releases the signal: If Ukraine continues to attack critical civilian infrastructure in Russia, Russia will respond with strategic weapons.From the perspective of international law, the Geneva Conventions have long made it clear that civil water conservancy, electricity and other infrastructure must be protected in the war. Ukraine's attack on dams for two consecutive days has been suspected of violating the laws of war.
Moreover, the "Hamas" rocket cannon used by the Ukrainian military is provided by the United States, and the United States has repeatedly asked Ukraine not to use U.S. weapons to attack the Russian mainland, but the incident will impact the U.S. aid policy to Ukraine.
Differences have emerged within western countries. Germany added 3 billion euros to upgrade its tactical air defense system, Poland stepped up the deployment of American-made "Aegis", and France publicly questioned the rationality of "using nuclear pollution to resist nuclear pollution". Russia has already transferred the production line of key missile components to India, and signed a technical confidentiality agreement with India to prevent technology leakage from causing global proliferation problems.
In the direction of the Sea of Japan, on October 25, Tu-95MS strategic bomber completed 14 hours of cruise, Su-35S fighter aircraft accompanied full range, the flight trajectory is almost close to the edge of Japan's air defense identification zone, further deterring the Asia-Pacific security order.
From a military perspective, Ukraine's series of "infrastructure destruction" operations did disrupt the Russian army's rear deployment in a short period of time, but the cost was also quite high: not only did it consume a large amount of ammunition, but it may also lead to more violent retaliation.
According to statistics from the Russian Ministry of Defense, in order to complete the two attacks, the Ukrainian army used a total of six "Haima" launch units. The ammunition consumption was equivalent to the three-day combat needs of a mechanized brigade, which has clearly exposed its logistical pressure. Russia's response is also tough enough, from accurately striking the 147 target to demonstrating the Haiyan missile technology, it is sending a signal to the outside world: Russia will not tolerate the destruction of domestic security.。
Whether the situation will therefore escalate further in the coming days and become the focus of external attention. Especially if the Russian side will use such weapons in advance before the "Haiyan" has not been officially dispatched, it remains unknown.
For China, the escalation of the current situation is worth warning, not only because the Russian-Ukrainian conflict may spread over Eastern Europe, but also because the security mechanisms within Western countries are facing a re-washing, and the global power pattern is undergoing profound adjustments.
The Ukrainian military rarely attacked the Russian dam, triggering a severe flooding crisis, Putin immediately announced that the nuclear-powered missile "Haiyan" completed the test, two major events jointly released a strong strategic signal.
Source of information:
[1] Russia claims that the Belgorod Reservoir dam was damaged by the Ukrainian army CCTV News
Special Representative of the President of Russia: has informed the US side of the nuclear-powered missile test "Haiyan"