The Russian forces struck the Pechenihy dam in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on December 7, halting traffic across the structure.
Oleksandr Husarov, head of the Pechenihy village council, reported the aftermath of the attack on Telegram.
“Russian occupiers carried out a strike on the Pechenihy Reservoir dam. As of 12:00 on December 7, 2025, movement along the roadway of the Pechenihy dam has been stopped. Stay calm and follow our further announcements,” the message said.
Footage published from the scene shows a partial collapse of the structure — a section of the dam has been destroyed, making transit effectively impossible. Husarov did not specify how the dam was hit or what munitions were used.
The dam carries one of the roads from Kharkiv toward Vovchansk, Velykyi Burluk and Kupiansk, where heavy fighting continues. The strike likely aimed to disrupt one of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ logistics routes.
The Pechenihy Reservoir is one of the region’s key hydrotechnical facilities. Commissioned in 1963, it supplies more than 70% of Kharkiv’s municipal and drinking water. With a useful capacity of 341 million cubic meters, it regulates flow in the upper Siverskyi Donets basin and provides irrigation for farmland.
Amid ongoing strikes on infrastructure, Russia continues information operations, claiming full control of Kupiansk. Ukrainian forces deny this. Andrii, call sign “Strateg,” head of recruiting for the 10th Corps, said fighting in the city continues, but Ukrainian units are holding their positions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have claimed Kupyansk is encircled. However, Viktor Tregubov, a representative of the Joint Forces grouping, said the Russians celebrated too soon.
