Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka Dam: A Comprehensive Overview

Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka Dam: A Comprehensive Overview of the Situation

Introduction

On June 6, 2023, thousands of residents in southern Ukraine faced the risk of catastrophic flooding after the strategically important Nova Kakhovka dam was destroyed. Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the dam, which provides water to the Crimean peninsula, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and much of southern Ukraine through canal systems that the dam helps power and irrigate. The destruction of the dam would exacerbate Ukraine’s ongoing energy problems and cause significant ecological damage to the Black Sea region.

The Strategic Significance of the Nova Kakhovka Dam

The Nova Kakhovka dam traverses Ukraine’s Dnipro River, holding back an estimated 18 cubic kilometers of water, approximately the same volume as Utah’s Great Salt Lake. The dam was built in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. Water from the reservoir it contains supplies Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014 and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to the north, Europe’s largest nuclear plant.

Potential Impacts

The ecological, economic, and energy consequences of the destruction of Nova Kakhovka dam would be catastrophic. If the dam bursts, it could bring a wall of water flooding settlements below it, including Kherson, which was recaptured by Ukrainian forces in late 2022. The destruction of the dam would also wreak havoc on the canal system that irrigates much of southern Ukraine, including Crimea. It would add to Ukraine’s ongoing energy problems, following Russia’s targeting of vital infrastructure earlier this year.

Previous Threats

Nova Kakhovka dam was earmarked as a strategic target since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine. It was captured by Russia at the start of Moscow’s February 2022 invasion and has been held by it ever since. As Ukraine was recapturing large parts of occupied Kherson in October 2022, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, urged the west to warn Russia not to blow up the dam, warning that it would flood a large area of southern Ukraine. At the time, he claimed that Russian forces had planted explosives inside the dam. In November, images emerged of the significant damage to the dam after Ukraine recaptured Kherson.

Current Situation

Residential flooding in May 2023 in a village near Nova Kakhovka was blamed on Russia’s occupation of the dam by Ukrainian officials. The water level began to rise in April, sometimes by up to 30 centimeters a day, and has remained elevated since. A Russian energy official said in May that the dam risked being overwhelmed by record-high water levels. However, Russian forces have accused Ukraine of rocketing the dam and planning to destroy it. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia over this strategically important dam persists, and its destruction would have long-lasting implications for Ukraine and the entire Black Sea region.

Editorial and Advice

The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam would result in a humanitarian and environmental disaster of epic proportions, and urgent action must be taken to prevent it. Both Ukraine and Russia must recognize the strategic significance of the dam and the potential humanitarian, ecological, and energy consequences of its destruction. It is imperative that international mediators take swift action to prevent further escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries. With climate change and environmental degradation creating new problems every day, it is essential that we come together to prevent further environmental damage by taking proactive steps to ensure that key infrastructure such as the Nova Kakhovka dam is kept out of military conflicts.