What is known about the destroyed dam After the break of the Kachowka Dam in Cherson, numerous flooded houses are reported. The warring parties blame each other. What is currently known – and what consequences the dam break could still have.
What happened?
According to both warring parties, the Kachowka Dam on the Dnipro River near Cherson in the Russian-occupied southern part of Ukraine, near the front, was badly damaged. The dam collapsed, the adjacent hydropower plant was destroyed. Kiev and Moscow blame each other.
The mayor appointed by Russia, Vladimir Leontyev, said on Russian state television that it was “obvious” that the power plant could no longer be repaired. The Ukrainian operator of the plant spoke of complete destruction.
What are the consequences of the dam break?
Around 600 houses are already flooded. According to rescue services, the city of Nova Kakhovka is also under water, citing the mayor appointed by Russia. He said on Russian state television that the water had already risen by twelve meters. The city is located directly on the destroyed dam. The Russian occupiers declared a state of emergency for Nova Kakhovka.
Further severe flooding is feared. According to Ukrainian reports, around 16,000 people live in the “critical zone” around the plant near the city of Nova Kakhovka.
EU Council President Charles Michel spoke of a catastrophe. “My thoughts are with all the families affected by the disaster in Ukraine,” he tweeted, announcing that he would work for aid for the affected areas. He was “shocked,” the “destruction of civilian infrastructure” was “clearly a war crime”. They would “hold Russia and its proxies accountable”.
Are other regions affected?
The mayor appointed by Russia, Leontyev, admitted that there could also be problems with the water supply on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, which is located south of Cherson. It is supplied with water from the Kachowka reservoir.
Is the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in danger?
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), there was initially no immediate danger to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, also located on the Dnipro River, northeast of the dam. “IAEA experts at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant are closely monitoring the situation,” said the IAEA’s Twitter account. “No immediate danger to the power plant.”
The state operator Energoatom also described the situation as not critical. A drop in the water level in the reservoir, which supplies the plant with cooling water, will not affect the water level in the spent fuel pools of the power plant where the spent fuel rods are stored, said Energoatom CEO Petro Kotin.
A spokesman for the Russian nuclear energy company Rosenergoatom also told the Interfax news agency that the power plant – like the Kachowka Dam on the Dnipro River – was not affected. The plant is occupied by Russian troops as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
What do Kiev and Moscow say about the cause?
It is suspected that the dam was blown up. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of “terrorism” and called a meeting of the National Security Council. The Ukrainian military began evacuations on the right side of the Dnipro in the direction of the flow, where the Ukrainian liberated regional capital of Cherson is also located.
The administrator of the southern Ukrainian oblast of Cherson, installed by Russia, said that he saw no need for a major evacuation. Governor Vladimir Saldo blamed the Ukrainian government for the destruction of the dam in a video spread on Telegram. This is to distract from the failure of their counteroffensive in the east.
It was also speculated that the dam could have broken due to poor maintenance. The information from both sides could not be independently verified at first.
Does the location have strategic importance?
The Kachowka Dam has had strategic importance since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine. As part of its attack, Russia also occupied the Cherson region. Last autumn, the Ukrainian army was able to liberate part of the region – including the regional capital of the same name. However, cities south of the Dnipro River remained under Russian control, including the dam city of Nova Kakhovka.
The Ukrainian side repeatedly warned of a possible act of sabotage by the Russians in Nova Kakhovka. Concern was raised when the occupiers announced the evacuation of the city in November. The dam was built in 1956 when Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union.