where are the potentially floodable areas after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam?

An ecological and human disaster. The partial destruction of the Kakhovka dam on Tuesday June 6 led to unprecedented flooding in Ukraine. The waves have already engulfed the shores of several of the 80 localities located in the risk zone. The level of the Kakhovka reservoir is falling rapidly, about 5 cm per hour. Then the Ukrainian authorities carry out drum beating evacuations of the population on the western bank.

A total of 16,000 people must be quickly brought to safety, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Chmyhal. Moscow, for its part, estimated that “more than 22,000 people” were concerned in 14 localities, but that “the situation is completely under control”. Evacuations are carried out on both banks of the river, while the water has begun to submerge homes. The potentially flood-prone area is marked in gray on the following map.

This unprecedented event raises questions around the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant, located in Enerhodar, because it pumps its water into the reservoir to ensure its cooling. The level was still 16.6 m on Tuesday morning, but the operation will become impossible below 12.7 m, specifies the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, the latter considers that there is no immediate risk. As Petro Kotin, the president of the Energoatom company, reminded us, the plant has its own cooling basin, separated from the reservoir and kept higher up. Since the reactors have been shut down for a long time, “the basin will be enough to supply water for months”.

Drinking water concerns

The destruction of the dam, on the other hand, poses a threat to the water supply. The Defense and National Security Council of Ukraine has ordered the distribution of drinking water in the region, for all towns and villages supplied by the Kakhovka reservoir. It should also cause significant difficulties for the water supply of Crimea, via the northern Crimean canal, which kyiv claims to want to regain.

Finally, on the environmental level, at least 150 tonnes of motor oil were spilled into the Dnipro, announces the Ukrainian presidency (in Ukrainian), and more than 300 tonnes could still flow into the watercourse. The Kherson regional prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation for “ecocide” and “violation of the laws and customs of war”. “Entire ecosystems are facing long-term and irreversible damage from flooding”denounced Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister.