Which makes no sense. The Ukes are on the offensive, it makes no sense for them to flood the path into Crimea. It also leaves them with an enormous rescue and cleanup job to do, perhaps postponing or even cancelling their offensive. And why would they destroy one of their own national assets, not just the dam and reservoir, but the flooded agriculture, population, property and industry on BOTH sides of the river?

Now it makes perfect military sense for the Russians to blow the dam. It provides a protective barrier against attack for Crimea and it saddles Ukraine with an enormous humanitarian problem as well as a huge obstacle to their military plans..

But how can Putin's propagandists possibly imagine they would expect any third party to believe the Ukrainians had a motive? Besides, they garrisoned the dam when it was breached. There was no way for the Ukes to even get to it. Even if the dam failed due to an accident, it was controlled by Putin, it is his responsibility.

One of the principles of propaganda is that it not be immediately recognizable as such. Putin obviously doesn't care he is ruining his country's reputation, his lies are like Trump's: he doesn't care whether anyone believes them or not. He's not even pretending to hide his crimes any more.

Which makes you wonder about the motives of those who still support him.