A large dam in Russian-occupied Ukraine collapsed last Tuesday, flooding the lower reaches of the river. Many experts fear that, in addition to the huge economic and human cost, this collapse will have long-term environmental consequences not only for Ukraine but also for neighboring countries.
The incident occurred on the morning of June 6 at the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper River, under the control of the Russian army, in southern Ukraine.
Senior lecturer in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Bath, Dr. Commenting on the subject, Mohammad Heidarzadeh said, “The Kakhovka Dam is one of the largest dams in the world in terms of reservoir capacity, with an enormous reservoir water capacity of approximately 18 billion cubic meters. For comparison, it is 90 times larger than the largest dam reservoir in the UK,” he said.
The collapse unleashed a downpour, as seen in the dramatic satellite images that captured the chaos. It is feared that this water will be contaminated with debris, pollutants and hazardous chemicals that could cause irreversible changes in affected ecosystems.
This collapse could have profound implications for the surrounding region, as the Kakhovka Reservoir serves as a water source for the largest irrigation system in Ukraine and Europe.
“Spilled motor oil can harm plants and animals that come into contact with it, but proper assessment can only be made after the water level has dropped and scientists have assessed the area,” Greenpeace said in a statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed “Russian terrorists” for the incident and described it as “the biggest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades”. Russia did not deny responsibility, but said the West had an “inexhaustible desire to blame Russia for everything.”
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres described the destruction of the dam as “an enormous humanitarian, economic and ecological disaster”. He also added that at least 16,000 people have already lost their homes and many more are expected to have to leave their homes, adding that the UN has to provide water treatment units and sanitation measures to the local population.
Danger of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
There are also concerns about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which uses reservoir water for cooling. Fortunately, experts think it shouldn’t be a cause for concern as it stays above destruction.
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