The destruction of the Kakhovka dam and its consequences

Introduction

The Kakhovka hydropower plant on the Dnipro River in Ukraine, its spillway dam and adjoining structures were completely destroyed in the early morning of 6 June 2023 in the course of the Russia–Ukraine War. In the lower reaches of the Dnipro River, four cities and several dozen villages were extensively flooded, killing many people, and destroying or damaging industrial and urban infrastructure. Bacteriological and chemical pollution has been recorded in both the lower Dnipro River and the north-western part of the Black Sea. Water supplies have been cut off for extensive agricultural areas, several large cities and towns, and major energy stations, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Three major consequences of this incident are described here: those on (1) the hydraulic structure itself, (2) the territory downstream from the hydraulic structure and (3) the Kakhovske reservoir formed by the dam and nearby regions. The purpose of this study is to clarify the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant and dam, as well as to outline the conditions that should be expected in the near future and consider options for restoration.

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