The Flood. The Second anniversary of the Kahovka dam destruction
It has been two years since Russian forces blew up the dam on the Kahovka reservoir
On the night of June 6, Russian occupying forces deliberately detonated the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, located just 5 km from Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson region. With a capacity to hold around 18 million cubic meters of water, the rupture of the dam resulted in an overwhelming surge of water downstream.
Numerous villages and towns were inundated, some nearly disappearing beneath the floodwaters. As of June 8, local officials reported that approximately 600 square kilometers had been flooded, with 32 percent of the affected area situated on the right bank of the river, which Ukraine occupies. (Russian forces primarily control the left bank.) Ukraine's environment minister, Ruslan Strilets, stated that the flooding was eight times worse on the left bank. The average water inundation level in the region was recorded at 5.61 meters. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal revealed that eighty settlements were under immediate threat of flooding. The magnitude of the disaster necessitated the urgent evacuation of residents, a process that had to be carried out amidst ongoing Russian artillery fire. The flooding impacted both the Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, with thirteen settlements in the latter region facing imminent danger.
The right bank of the river, which is currently under Russian occupation, is situated at a lower elevation compared to the left bank. Consequently, this part of Kherson oblast suffered the most severe consequences. Russian occupying forces confiscated all available watercraft from civilians, leaving them stranded in the flooded areas. Many individuals were forced to seek refuge on the rooftops of their homes, awaiting help that would never arrive as rescue operations were rendered impossible.
Ukrainian scientists have warned that the loss of the reservoir waters will result in drinking water scarcity across four oblasts—Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and parts of Mykolaiv, as well as Crimea. The situation is further exacerbated by contamination caused by the explosion. The hydroelectric power plant's turbines and other mechanical equipment were damaged, releasing between 150 and 450 tons of engine oil into the Dnipro River. Consequently, consuming water below the dam poses a significant risk. Scientists have also expressed concerns about the presence of toxic substances and pathogens in the reservoir. The poisoned water flowing into rivers could contaminate groundwater, exacerbating the drinking water shortage in the surrounding areas.
The Aftermath
Wildlife faces a severe threat, with entire ecosystems on the brink of destruction. Forty-eight protected sites, encompassing a total area of 120,000 hectares and established under the Nature Reserves Fund, will be wholly or partially affected. These sites include the renowned Black Sea Biosphere Reserve, which has been protected since 1927 and is part of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve network. Many hectares of these protected areas, crucial for fish spawning and providing habitats for birds and animals, have been devastated. In some regions, a mass die-off of fish has already been observed. These losses are likely to have far-reaching consequences for the ecosystems of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, both of which are nourished by the Dnipro River.
The water deficit has already started to impact the operation of vital metallurgy plants in the southern region of the country. The country's largest metallurgical plant, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, has been forced to limit water usage and adjust some production processes. The Zaporizhzhia ferroalloy plant and the Nikopol ferroalloy plant have also been affected by water shortages.
Furthermore, the Russian air strikes during the conflict have had a dramatic impact on Ukraine's power sector. While the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant did not directly affect the operation of Ukraine's power system, it will have significant consequences. The Russians disconnected the Kakhovka plant from the Ukrainian power system back in October 2022. Nevertheless, all other hydroelectric power plants in Kakhovka had to modify their operating procedures to reduce water usage, which ultimately affects the power system.
Additionally, several energy facilities have been flooded, including the cogeneration thermal power plant in Kherson, two solar power plants in the Mykolaiv oblast, and 129 transformer substations. As a result, the power supply has been significantly reduced, leaving approximately 20,000 customers without electricity in the aftermath of the disaster.
The destruction of the Kahovka dam stands out as one of the most devastating of Russia`s war crimes in Ukraine.
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