Eurotopics.net

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on the Dnieper River has led to the flooding of vast areas of land in Ukraine and deprived thousands of people of their livelihoods. Many have sought refuge on rooftops and are waiting to be evacuated. There is also growing concern about the colossal impact on the environment, drinking water supplies, agriculture and the cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. The quest for the truth about who did this and their motives continues.

The collapse of Kakhovka Dam is widely seen in Ukraine and the West as an act of war by Russia, and the resulting devastation as an act of aggression. Among Russia's neighbours, concerns are now mounting that their own dams and other critical infrastructure may not be adequately protected.

In Annecy in eastern France, six people including four toddlers were injured in a stabbing attack on Thursday. Two are currently in a critical condition. The attacker, a Christian from Syria, shouted "Jesus Christ" before the attack. The attack drew immediate calls for a stricter immigration policy from the far right and on social networks. France's press makes a first assessment of the events.

The deficits in the provision of medical emergency care have reached dramatic proportions in Greece. On the popular tourist island of Kos, a woman died in a pick-up truck that was transporting her to hospital on Sunday. The island's sole functioning ambulance was unavailable. A few days later a 19-year-old pregnant woman near Athens and a tourist in Chalkidiki died after having to wait too long for an ambulance.

France's military budget will rise by 40 percent, Denmark increased its defence budget this week, and the EU Parliament plans to invest 500 million euros to boost munitions production. Back in March 2022 Germany announced an additional 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr in response to Russia's war against Ukraine. Europe's press takes stock of the rearmament trend.