Ukraine's Kakhovka Dam collapse causes €1.2 Billion in damages
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Kyiv: Damages caused by the collapse of the Kakhovka hydro-electric dam in Ukraine amount to 1.2 billion euros, said the country's environment minister.
The catastrophic event, which occurred on June 6, resulted in widespread flooding across southern Ukraine and Russian-occupied areas of the Kherson region. Over 50 people lost their lives, while countless homes and farmland were destroyed.
During a virtual meeting of European Union environment ministers, Ukrainian Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets highlighted the ongoing assessments of the damage caused by the dam collapse. He emphasised that this incident is the largest environmental disaster since Russia's invasion in February 2022. He expressed concern over the irreparable loss of ecosystems washed away into the Black Sea, including the death of approximately 20,000 animals, including endemic species unique to southern Ukraine.
While the minister did not provide specific details on the 1.2 billion euros in estimated damages, he highlighted the immediate consequence of the collapse. The incident has left around 1 million people without access to drinking water due to a drastic reduction in the reservoir's volume. He also warned that debris from the dam breach could flow into other countries, suggesting that "Europe will find Russian mines on its beaches."
Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately destroying the Soviet-era dam, which has been under Russian control since the early days of the invasion.
The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of sabotaging the hydroelectric facility. As Ukraine's prosecutors investigate the incident, a team of international legal experts assisting in the investigation has stated that it is "highly likely" that the collapse resulted from explosives planted by Russians.
In response to the dam breach, European Union environment policy chief Virginijus Sinkevicius announced that EU countries are coordinating emergency supplies, including boats, shelters, water dams, medical materials, and water purifiers. Poland has called for Russia's suspension from the Intergovernmental International Renewable Energy Agency and has sought EU-wide support for this action. Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia have endorsed Poland's proposal during the environment ministers' meeting.