What the Nova Kakhovka depot strike meant by 14 July 2022
A look back at the explosion in the Russian-occupied city and the competing claims that followed.
What was known by 14 July 2022 about the explosion in Nova Kakhovka? The city, occupied by Russian forces, had been hit in a Ukrainian missile attack that, according to the background to these events, was launched on 11 July 2022.
As reported on 12 July 2022, a massive explosion occurred in the city after Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian arms depot. The strike formed part of the Ukrainian summer counteroffensive during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian state news agency TASS made its own claims about the damage. It said a market, a hospital and civilian housing had also been hit, and that several civilians had been killed. TASS also reported that Artem Nasbulin, a general of the Russian 22nd Army Corps, was allegedly among the dead.
Russia said Ukraine had used HIMARS missiles in the operation. It described the weapons as recently acquired from the United States.
By 14 July 2022, then, two accounts of the strike stood side by side: Ukraine's destruction of an arms depot, and Russian assertions of civilian casualties and damage to civilian buildings.
