Environmental

Ukrainian scientists say restoring the Kakhovska Dam reservoir an “absolute necessity”

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Ukrainian scientists say restoring the Kakhovska Dam reservoir an “absolute necessity”
(photo courtesy Ukrhydroenergo)

The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine has adopted Resolution No. 313, “On the environmental consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovskaya HPP dam,” which states the absolute necessity of restoring the reservoir and provides proposals for resolving the future fate of the hydroelectric project.

Scientists of the Institute of Hydrobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine conducted studies on the qualitative and quantitative assessment of ecosystem transformations caused by the destruction of the dam and hydropower project and the subsequent course of this disaster and its possible negative consequences for the environment.

“Destruction on June 6 of this year dam of the Kakhovskaya HPP, according to the military, was caused by its mining and detonation by the occupying forces of the Russian Federation. As a result, more than 16,000 people and 80 settlements were in the disaster zone. The destruction of the dam led to significant human casualties and a large-scale ecological disaster and has all the signs of a war crime and ecocide,” the report said.

The document states that as a result of the drainage and fragmentation of the Kakhovsky Reservoir, the catastrophic death of many aquatic plants and animals occurred. Scientists emphasize that as a result of the destruction of the hydroelectric power station, young fish were primarily destroyed. In total, the populations of more than 70 species of fish were affected, among which 18 are listed in the Red Book, an official national red list of the threatened animals, plants and fungi that are protected by the law in Ukraine. Experts also admit the possibility of secondary pollution of the Dnipro River water and aquifers.

Research revealed the fragmentation of the Kakhovsky Reservoir into five to eight large reservoirs united by the current of the old Dnieper riverbed, 15 to 20 medium and large reservoirs that have lost their direct connection with the Dnieper, and several hundred medium and small isolated reservoirs.

Specialists of the Institute of Hydrobiology proposed a number of possible measures to reduce the negative effects of the destruction of the Kakhovskaya dam and hydropower project, as well as proposals for solving the issue of the future fate of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric powerhouse.