At June 6, the Russian invaders destroyed the Kakhovka dam, blowing up 11 of the 28 spans of the dam from the inside. The approximate width of the breach is more than 170 meters. The time when the Kakhovsky reservoir will be fully operational is only 4 days. The disappearance of one of the largest Ukrainian reservoirs will also lead to the devastation of many irrigation canals. One of them is the North Crimean Canal – the only source of fresh water to the Crimea. River ports and elevators, roads, and railways will disappear. The scale and consequences of the destruction will be catastrophic for the region.
Thus, here is a brief description of the consequences of this terrorist act for the South of Ukraine, in particular for agricultural production.
Agricultural lands
Before the war, Kherson Oblast had the largest amount of arable land in Ukraine — up to 2 million hectares. Part of these areas is currently under occupation. The de-occupied territories are mined, and another part will be flooded. The dam destruction will make it impossible to cultivate irrigated areas.
Up to 80 settlements are at risk of flooding. The effect of the reduction of cultivated areas and the reduction of productivity will most likely be long-lasting.
Soils
There will be waterlogging of the mouth of the Dnipro River, soil degradation due to siltation, and wind erosion over time. Desertification and destruction of vegetation are possible on some lands. Also, as a result of the flooding, part of the woody vegetation will die. Trees restrained the phenomenon of coastal erosion and the spread of ravines and gullies.
Aqua resources
As a result of fish decomposition, the washing away of a large amount of fertilizers from the fields, pesticides, and landfills in flooded settlements, industries, and factories, water poisoning will occur. The waters of the mouths of the Dnipro, the Southern Bug, and the Ingulets rivers will become unfit for drinking and agricultural use. As a result of the destruction of the reservoir, and the failure of pumping stations, dams, canals, and other hydraulic structures, the supply of water to the field irrigation systems of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions will stop.
Logistics
Navigation on the Dnipro will be impossible for the next few years. Roads in the lower part of the Dnipro, bridges, moorings, and protective dams have been destroyed and flooded.
The ports in Nikopol, Kamianets-Dniprovska and Energodar will be shut down for a long time. The railway tracks connecting Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro with the Crimea, Kryvyi Rih and Donbas will be washed away and destroyed.