Kakhovka Dam Catastrophe: One Year After the russia-made Environmental Disaster 

By Iryna Drobot, Iryna Roik

On June 6, 2023, after 16 months of russian occupation of the territory of the Kakhovka civilian hydropower plant, the russian military deliberately made another atrocity: they detonated the plant from the inside. 

Not only did russian army occupy a civilian hydro power plant, but also committed a war crime by intentionally destroying the civilian dam, according to Geneva conventions. As if not enough, russia still targets major civilian hydro power plants in Ukraine: Kaniv, Dnister, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk dams – all under attack and partially damaged a year after Kakhovka in April 2024.

Not surprisingly, explosion of Kakhovka dam – almost as huge as Hoover dam – caused 18 km3 water to wash away everything on its way. Around 620 km2 (roughly the size of New York City) were completely or partially flooded. Ukraine was evacuating 17,000 people while the same needed to be done for around 25,000 residents under russian control. A more striking thing is that russia attacked Ukrainian evacuation efforts killing emergency servicemen and evacuees.

People lost lives. Occupation authorities deliberately minimised the death toll. The investigators found at least hundreds of drowned people only in one town Oleshky, not to speak about 59 officially drowned residents in the whole region according to russia.

Damages and losses account for US$14 billions according to the UN report (with $1.82 billion for immediate recovery needs). Every possible aspect of a civilian life was impacted: lost homes, lost lives, hundreds of perished (trapped) animals and livestock, washed away million tons of crops, destroyed irrigation, power supply system, no drinkable water, 30-40% lost water fauna. Once a livable area continues to struggle for its survival. russians turned water – the source of life – into an uncontrollable deadly stream for multiple southern regions of Ukraine. 

Nova Ukraine‘s Response to the Disaster

Within 6 days right after the dam explosion in 2023, Nova Ukraine raised $126,000 to help eliminate the consequences of the disaster and save civilians. We are grateful to each of the 1600 donors for their support of the Kherson region.

The main projects focused on:

• civilian evacuation
• evacuation of animals
• operational response centers with hot lunches for population
• various types of assistance, including critically needed medicines 
• aid with equipment etc to the volunteering rescuers and the emergency servicemen of DSNS (State Service of Emergency Situations)

Kherson Region Crisis Response

• 35+ tons of food and water delivered
• 3,320+ hot meals served
• 3,700+ people and animals evacuated
• 5,315+ tons of aid delivered
• 2,250+ packages of critically needed medicines
• 12,335+ people helped
• $50,000 of equipment for first responders delivered

A year after: a wild forest instead of fresh water reservoir

The territory of the former Kakhovka Reservoir is now a green willow forest grown on a silted-up bottom. Without a permanent water supply system, harvests are falling. Dozens of settlements are still without accessible drinking water, as reiterated the UN. The Kakhovka hydro power plant cannot be restored until the war ends. Thus, drinking water supply is the matter of the affected local communities. Every household left without water needs to find water supplies on their own. 

Drinking water is essential in a drought-affected region. The Nova Ukraine team is helping communities restore access to drinking water. 

With your help, Nova Ukraine has been able to do these things:

1. Install four water treatment systems in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, together with our partners RATEG and the NGO “Family club “Two in One”.

Due to flooding, the wells that supplied water to small villages are unsafe for consumption. Water treatment plants of varying capacities (treating 500 to 1000 liters per hour) make the water suitable for drinking and cooking. 

“We have bitter-salty tap water. We used to buy water, but now, thanks to your help, we can drink it for free. We are so grateful, we did not expect this!” – Franz Petrovich (Komyshany village)

Thank you very much! The water is delicious and clean. At least now we can drink tea properly, because all we do is throw away the kettles from this water – they are all covered in limescale.” – Mrs. Tatiana (Kalynivka village)

2. Provide hot meals and bread to the evacuated population for a year. Our partner, Iskra Dobra, brings hot, ready-to-eat meals to the vulnerable people unable to cook on their own: evacuees from the dangerous regions, and IDPs who live in emergency dorms, repurposed kindergartens, and schools. Such people are struggling as their property was destroyed after the flood, or they lost their property and money, with little to no money to buy food.

Along with ready-to-eat meals, we bake and deliver fresh bread. Nourishing bread and clean water are a small relief for the affected residents.

3. Provide regular evacuation of vulnerable people (people with disabilities, illnesses, etc.) from the region with our partner Barrier-Free Foundation. Between July 2023 and April 2024, our partners evacuated 57 people from the Kherson region. Regardless of a humble number, the number of evacuees is impressive in extreme conditions. Yet, the words of gratitude from the people we saved are so valuable. 

Ms. Lidiya from Kherson region has lymphoma. Because of the disease, she weighs 551 lbs and cannot move on her own. To rescue her, the partner’s team developed a real special operation. Six strong men helped to transfer Lidiya to a gurney. In the evacuation ambulance, they removed all the equipment and placed mattresses for a more comfortable transfer. And in Kyiv, the state emergency team helped to transfer the rescued woman to the hospital. After treatment, we handed Lidiya over to the caring staff of a geriatric boarding house, for constant care.

We are grateful to everyone for any kind of support, whether by donating to restore drinking water supplies, supporting the evacuation of animals, or donating for critical medicines for Ukrainians. 

Only together can we stand against injustice and terror!

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