Flooding risk after Russian strike on Kharkiv region dam: Evacuation plan under review
Illustrative photo: risk of flooding reported after Russia’s strike on a dam in the Kharkiv region (video screenshot)
There is still a risk of flooding in settlements in the Kharkiv region following the Russian strike on the Pechenihy Reservoir dam on December 7, Kharkiv Regional Military Administration head Oleh Syniehubov reported this during a national telethon live broadcast.
"We are making every effort to stabilize the situation after the enemy attack on one of the region’s dams. There is a risk of flooding in populated areas," Syniehubov said.
According to him, the region has prepared response plans that were developed back in 2022, as the enemy was already targeting this critical infrastructure facility at that time.
"All the plans have been updated, and all of them are realistic," the head of the regional administration added.
If the situation worsens, around 13,000 people may need to be evacuated, including 3,500 citizens with limited mobility.
"All available resources will allow us to carry out the evacuation in a timely and organized manner. If necessary, we will provide transportation and temporary accommodation," Syniehubov stated.
He noted that additional options are currently being explored to deploy transit centers in the Poltava, Kyiv, and Zhytomyr regions for the temporary accommodation of people if needed.
Pechenihy Reservoir
The Pechenihy Reservoir is located on the Siverskyi Donets River in the Kharkiv region and is one of the key sources of water supply for Kharkiv and nearby communities.
It was created in the 1950s as part of the region’s drinking water supply system. The reservoir covers an area of about 86 km², stretches 65 kilometers in length, and has a width ranging from 300 to 3,000 meters.
Its depth varies from 4.5 to 20 meters, and its catchment area reaches 8,400 km². The reservoir is named after the village of Pechenihy, located 60 km from Kharkiv, near which the dam is situated.
The Pechenihy dam plays an important role in regulating water levels and preventing flooding.
The facility is of strategic importance and has repeatedly been targeted by Russian attacks since the start of the full-scale war.
On December 7, the Russian army carried out missile strikes on the Pechenihy Reservoir dam, after which all traffic across the roadway was completely halted.
