Sad...always tragic when something that had so much work put into it gets destroyed...but it was to be expected. This is the Find Out part of FAFO. On the bright side, the dam still stands, unless the Ukrainians decide that without the power station it is of no use to them anymore and they may as well try and score some propaganda points with another Kakhovka-like false flag.

Taking a broader view and leaving aside emotions though, i have to say this whole conflict has been a master class in escalation management from the Russian side. They have ratcheted up the pressure at exactly the pace that has suited them, even when their own side was calling to take the gloves off much earlier. At this point these sorts of strikes have a far greater impact than had they happened a year or two ago.

And far from being a mere kneejerk response to certain recent provocations from the Ukrainian side i think that what we are seeing now was meticulously planned way in advance as part of the broader overall strategy of attrition. It's no coincidence that just as Ukraine is weaker and more exhausted than it has ever been Russia is ramping up pressure all across the front... and now we see these strikes in the deep rear.