A US-based non-profit organization, Project Dynamo, is spearheading rescue missions in Kherson, Ukraine, following the devastating collapse of the Kakhovka dam. Led by combat veterans, the organization has been active in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022, primarily focusing on occupied territories, especially in the south and east.
Locals navigate flooded Kherson in boats after the dam's collapse. (Project Dynamo)
Floodwaters from the Dnipro River engulf areas surrounding Kherson. (Project Dynamo)
The dam's destruction, which both Russia and Ukraine blame on each other, has caused widespread flooding, displacing thousands. A Ukrainian NGO estimates that nearly 100 towns and villages have been inundated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributed the disaster to a "Russian terrorist attack" and accused Russian troops of firing on rescuers.
President Zelenskyy surveys the flood-stricken areas of Kherson. (Reuters/Stringer)
Project Dynamo co-founder Bryan Stern confirmed that while his team has not been targeted, he acknowledges the possibility, citing the Russian military's history of civilian attacks. Stern recounted rescuing a family who had recently returned home after being displaced by the war, only to be forced out again by the floods. He described their deep frustration and despair at the relentless cycle of hardship.
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Ukrainians use a boat to escape the floodwaters following the Kakhovka dam's destruction. (Project Dynamo)
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Dogs and a resident await rescue on a rooftop. (Project Dynamo)
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Submerged streets in Kherson force residents to rely on boats. (Project Dynamo)
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A house in Kherson is almost entirely underwater. (Project Dynamo)
Stern emphasized the urgent need for more boats and a jet ski to bolster their rescue efforts and encouraged donations through ProjectDynamo.org.
