Evidence suggests that the destruction of the massive Kakhovka Dam in a Russian-controlled area of ​​Ukraine was the result of an internal explosion set off by Russia, the New York Times reported.

Citing engineers and explosives experts, the newspaper said its investigation found evidence that an explosive charge in a walkway at the dam’s concrete base was detonated, destroying the structure on June 6.

“The evidence clearly shows that the dam was destroyed by an explosion set off by the side that controls it: Russia,” the paper said.

A team of international legal experts assisting Ukrainian prosecutors in their investigation said in preliminary findings last Friday that it is “highly likely” that the collapse of the dam in Ukraine’s Kherson region was caused by explosives planted by the Russians.

The Kremlin accuses Kiev of sabotaging the hydroelectric dam to cut off the main source of water to Crimea, which Russia has annexed from Ukraine, and to distract from what it says is a faltering Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the Soviet-built dam that has been under Russian control since the early days of its 2022 invasion, causing torrents of water to flood much of the battlefield, destroying agricultural land and cutting off water supplies to civilians.

Reuters could not independently confirm the claims about the cause of the explosion.

Citing engineers, the paper says a full examination of the dam once the water is drained may provide clues to the sequence of events that led to the disaster.

“Corrosion from water falling from the exit gates could have resulted in failure if the dam was poorly designed or if the concrete was of inferior quality, but engineers called that unlikely,” the paper said.