Scientists warn what awaits southern Ukraine after loss of Kakhovka reservoir
Photo: The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (Facebook/Ukrhydroenergo)
The loss of the Kakhovka Reservoir threatens the future of agriculture and the ecosystem of Ukraine’s entire southern region, according to the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, the consequences of the dam destruction are already critical: in some areas, losses of agricultural land have reached between 71% and 98%.
"Science must not only assess the consequences of this catastrophe, but also provide tools for making responsible state decisions," said Academy Vice President Viacheslav Bohdanov.
Scientists noted that during years of critically low water levels, water shortages in the Dnipro basin could turn into a large-scale and long-term problem for southern Ukraine.
Although a large number of smaller water bodies have formed where the Kakhovka Reservoir once existed, they are unable to provide the necessary volume of water supply.
Researchers emphasize that in low-water years, water shortages in the Dnipro basin will become a chronic problem.
Main findings of the study:
- Residual water bodies at the site of the former reservoir cannot meet the region’s needs.
- Groundwater has potential, but its use requires additional scientific assessment.
- The ecocide is ongoing: changes in the water regime are already destroying fish resources and the unique vegetation of the Lower Dnipro region.
"Future decisions regarding the Kakhovka Reservoir cannot be reduced to the question of whether to restore it or not. In reality, the issue concerns what the water supply system, agricultural development, ecosystems, and the economy of southern Ukraine will look like in the coming decades," the National Academy of Sciences statement said.
On the night of June 6, 2023, the Russian army blew up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, causing a massive disaster. Following the breach, floodwaters submerged numerous settlements in the Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
A hydrologist warned about long-term risks of rivers drying up in southern and southeastern Ukraine. Without preventive measures, some waterways could disappear completely within 50 years.
