Potential Long-Term Impact of the Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam

The Kakhovka dam's destruction on 6 June 2023, as a consequence of Russia’s war on Ukraine, has led to the flooding of downstream communities, prompting an urgent need for population evacuation and humanitarian assistance. The Kakhovka reservoir played a crucial role in providing energy, drinking water, irrigation, and river transport to various regions in southern Ukraine, as well as supplying water for industries in Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, Marhanets, and other cities and areas. The release of over 18 cubic km of water within a span of 3-4 days poses a significant threat to nearly 80 settlements, potentially affecting around 100,000 inhabitants directly, while up to one million people could lose access to drinking water. However, the destruction of the dam, beyond these immediate humanitarian needs, will have a significant impact in the longer term on a much larger geographical area and population. It will have severe, long-term impacts on Ukraine's environment, economy and society, including possible displacement and migration of population, and is likely to cast a dark shadow over the country for decades to come.

Read more in the "Potential Long-Term Impact of the Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, UNCT Joint Analytical Note" – 9 June 2023