The Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine

• 07 Jun 2023

Why in News?

The Kakhovka Dam was a major hydroelectric power plant and reservoir on the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine. It was destroyed on June 6th, 2023, in an explosion that caused massive flooding and a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn region.

• Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for the attack, which has escalated the tensions between the two countries.

What are the key Facts About Kakhovka Dam?

• About:
  • The Kakhovka Dam was built in 1956 as part of the Soviet Union’s ambitious project to harness the Dnipro River for irrigation, power generation and navigation.
  • The dam was 30 meters tall and 3.2 kilometers long, creating a reservoir that covered 2,155 square kilometers and held 18 cubic kilometers of water.
  • The dam also supplied water to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is under Russian control.
  • The dam was located on the front line between Ukrainian and Russian forces in southern Ukraine, where fighting has been ongoing since 2014.

• Ongoing Issue:
  • Recently, an explosion occurred inside the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, causing a breach in the dam and releasing a huge amount of water downstream.
  • The floodwaters inundated (cover land with water) dozens of towns and villages on both sides of the river, displacing thousands of people and damaging infrastructure, crops and livestock.
  • The water level also rose in the Dniprovska Gulf, a bay of the Black Sea near Kherson city, threatening coastal areas with erosion and salinization.
  • The explosion also cut off electricity to millions of people and disrupted water supplies to Crimea and Zaporizhzhia.
• Impact on the Russia-Ukraine war:
  • Adding a new dimension to the conflict, the collapse of the dam has introduced an unexpected element to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
  • It remains unclear whether either side benefits from the dam's damage since both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands are at risk.
    • However, the damage could impede Ukraine's counteroffensive plans in the south and divert the government's attention.
• The Aftermath and Immediate Concerns:
  • Environmental and Social Impact:
    • The flooding resulting from the dam's collapse has led to homes, streets, and businesses being inundated downstream.
    • Emergency crews are undertaking evacuations, and concerns have arisen about the cooling systems at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the water supply to Crimea.
  • Evacuation Efforts:
    • Approximately 22,000 people in Russian-controlled areas and 16,000 people in critical zones in Ukrainian-held territory are at risk.
    • Russian and Ukrainian authorities are facilitating the evacuation of residents.

Source: IE