I find the idea that Russia destroyed the dam to be very difficult to believe, for the following reasons:
- Flooding disproportionately affected the Russian side of the river and destroyed Russian positions.
- The loss of the dam does severe damage to core Russian interests, including Crimean water access and agriculture on the steppe.
- The dam, while intact, was a tool which Russia was using to manipulate the water level freely.
- Of the two beligerent parties, only Ukraine has openly shot at the dam and talked about breaching it.