On the night of June 6, Russian troops blew up Ukrainian Kakhovka HPP. Currently, the evacuation of the population is ongoing. The station is completely destroyed and cannot be restored.
Population evacuation
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reported that up to 80 settlements are at risk of flooding. The authorities are conducting an evacuation. The President of Ukraine convened the National Security Council, after which the State Commission of National Security will hold a meeting. The government is trying to assess the consequences for the environment and the threat to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power station. But due to the lack of access to it, such an assessment is complicated.
Zaporizhzhya nuclear power station
As “Energoatom” reports, the explosion of the Kakhovka dam will definitely affect the operation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP. The explosion may have negative consequences but the situation is under control. Water from the Kakhovsky Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive power for turbine capacitors and safety systems of the ZNPP. Now the station cooling pond is full. The water level is sufficient for the station’s needs.
Leakage of engine oil to the Dnipro river
As the Ukrainian government informed, more than 150 tons of machine oil leaked into the Dnipro River due to the flooding. At the same time, there is a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons.
A set of international events was also agreed upon at the meeting. These include convening a meeting of the UN Security Council, appeals to international environmental organizations and the International Criminal Court. Because such actions of the Russians contain clear signs of violation of the Geneva Convention.
Supply of the population with drinking water
The Kakhovsky Reservoir was the largest source of fresh water in the region. The water level in it has already fallen by 2 meters and will continue to fall by at least another 5 meters or more. Several regions of Ukraine at once risk facing big problems in the water supply to big cities. The whole of Crimea will generally lose its only source of drinking water.