Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of blowing up the massive Nova Kakhovka dam in the Kherson region that supplies water to Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. That’s forcing about 40,000 people to evacuate with 80 towns and villages at risk of flooding, creating an ecological disaster, Ukrainian officials say. While neither side has accepted responsibility, one theory is that Russia may have decided to destroy the dam to hold up Ukraine’s counteroffensive. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg agrees, calling it “an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia’s war against Ukraine.” US officials reckon Ukraine has stepped up the fighting in the east and southern parts – and some new equipment could help with that… Reports say that Australia is set to heed Ukraine’s calls to provide some of our Hawkei armoured vehicles.