Environmental aftermath is catastrophic: Kherson Regional Council deputy Khlan on Kakhovka HPP blast

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

"Hola Prystan is already beginning to flood. The water is coming and the Kinburn Spit will also be flooded. Perhaps not all of it, but it is likely that it will become an island," Khlan explained.

The regional council deputy emphasised that the Russians' blowing up of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant would have catastrophic environmental consequences

"One should understand that as a result of the hydroelectric power plant explosion the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir will drop. Russia will be left without water to the occupied Crimea. Also, the entire Kherson region will be left without irrigation for many years. Crop irrigation is under great threat. Because, as already mentioned, it will take at least 5 years to rebuild the Kakhovka HPP. Therefore, today's disaster will have consequences for decades. The environmental consequences are especially catastrophic," he added.

On Tuesday, June 6, Russian occupation forces blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, completely destroying it. Evacuation of residents from dangerous areas began, and the President of Ukraine convened an emergency meeting of the Security and Defense Council. For a detailed account of the events, click here.

What is known about Kakhovka HPP

The invading Russian army seized the main structure of the North Crimean Canal and the Kakhovka HPP on February 24 last year. The Kakhovka HPP is located 5 km from the Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka. Water intake for the North Crimean Canal, which has been unblocked by the occupiers since the beginning of the invasion, is carried out in the Kakhovka reservoir.

This hydroelectric power plant is the lower and last (sixth) stage in the Dnipro reservoir cascade. The hydroelectric power plant near Nova Kakhovka ensures the annual regulation of the Dnipro river flow to ensure that the southern part of Ukraine has electricity and water.

On October 20, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was preparing to stage a new large-scale terrorist attack - to blow up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in Kherson region.

Later, the head of the Kherson City Military Administration, Halyna Luhova, addressed the people of Kherson in connection with Russia's preparation of a terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP. She published an algorithm of actions to be taken in case the dam is blown up at the reservoir.

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, the Russian occupation forces blew up the Kakhovka HPP, completely destroying it. Evacuation of residents of dangerous areas of Kherson region began, and the President of Ukraine convened an emergency meeting of the Security and Defense Council.

Ukraine’s Energoatom nuclear operator stated that this could have negative consequences for ZNPP, but the situation is under control.

Instead, Natalia Humeniuk, head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces, believes that Russia is trying to play another man-made blackmail card to put pressure on Ukraine.