In the news today: An AP investigation uncovers how Russian authorities undercounted deaths in the aftermath of a devastating dam collapse; Trump’s claiming of ignorance is part of a broader pattern; and American fast-food chains are a shining star in China’s economy. Also, a restaurant claiming to be the oldest in Paris has reopened with a front-row view of two of the biggest events of 2024.
Over six months after a catastrophic explosion destroyed the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region, an AP investigation has found Russian occupation authorities vastly and deliberately undercounted the dead in one of the most devastating chapters of the 22-month war.
Why this matters:
- In the critical first hours after the June 6 dam collapse, occupation authorities downplayed the consequences, leading many residents in the town of Oleshky to believe they would not be affected. This later contributed to the high death toll.
- Health workers and others who were in Oleshky told the AP that Russian authorities hid the true number of dead by taking control of the issuing of death certificates and immediately removing bodies not claimed by families. They also prevented local health workers and volunteers from dealing with the dead, threatening them when they defied orders. Still afraid, many Oleshky residents and health workers declined to speak, fearing reprisals.
