Dam Safety

Ukrhydroenergo to file lawsuits against Russian Federation for infrastructure damage

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Ukrhydroenergo to file lawsuits against Russian Federation for infrastructure damage
(photo courtesy Ukrhydroenergo)

Ukrhydroenergo in Ukraine has engaged two law firms to develop a litigation and arbitration strategy to hold the Russian Federation accountable for targeted attacks on the company’s infrastructure and assets, as well as compensation for damages.

The companies were selected with the help of the Pro Bono Platform of the Secretariat of the Energy Community. The two law firms have jointly pledged to provide 375 hours of legal work free of charge.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, in February 2022, the Russian army has attacked Ukrhydroenergo facilities more than 50 times, including the destruction of the Kakhovskaya HPP, which led to the loss of about 2,500 MW of capacity.

The destruction of Kakhovka Dam alone inflicted almost US$14 billion in loss and damage on Ukraine, compounding the disastrous impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to a report released by the Government of Ukraine and United Nations. The initial estimate for total recovery and reconstruction needs is $5.04 billion, and this is expected to grow as more detailed assessments are carried out. In the short term, $1.82 billion is required for recovery efforts in the 2023/2024 period.

The Pro Bono platform was created in July 2023. It allows law firms and qualified independent lawyers to join efforts to compensate for damage to critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine by providing any number of hours free of charge for various projects.