Open gateways of Kakhovka HPP can lead to environmental disaster in Kherson region - Nova Kakhovka Mayor Kovalenko

He stated this on the Espreso TV channel.

"The Russian forces have blown up the dams at the Kakhovka HPP. Today, the water level discharged into the Dnipro River is very high. This leads to the Kakhovka reservoir becoming shallower, and the water level in the Dnipro rises sharply. Now tens of kilometers of dry banks of the Kakhovka reservoir are already visible. Therefore, it is very difficult to imagine the consequences of these actions of the Russians if they are not stopped," said Kovalenko.

The mayor of Nova Kakhovka emphasized that the actions of the Russian invading forces could lead to an environmental disaster

"The lower part of the Dnipro River, where Kakhovka is located, is full of water. Because water is constantly discharged from the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. But the Kakhovka Sea is now becoming shallower every day. The consequences are hard to imagine. I don't know all the technical aspects of Zaporizhzhia NPP. However, as for the Kherson region, such actions of the Russians could lead to an environmental disaster," he added.

On February 5, Hryhoriy Yuzhda, former deputy director general of the Kyiv State Regional Television and Radio Company (KRTRC) for broadcasting, said that the Kakhovka reservoir had become shallow by 1.4 meters due to the Russians' blowing up of the shandors at the hydroelectric power plant during their retreat from the right bank.