UN estimates Ukraine's losses from Kakhovka hydroelectric dam destruction

This is stated in a report presented by the Government of Ukraine and the UN.

"The initial estimate for total recovery and reconstruction needs is $5.04 billion, and this figure is expected to grow as more detailed assessments are carried out," the report says.

"In the short term, $1.82 billion is required for recovery efforts in the 2023/2024 period," the UN added.

The report noted that the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam caused enormous damage, flooding 620 square kilometers of territory in four regions of Ukraine, namely Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrosk and Zaporizhzhia, which directly affected 100,000 people. There was significant damage to housing, infrastructure, the environment and cultural sites such as historic buildings, museums and places of worship.

In addition, a number of consumers were cut off from power supply, and access to drinking water, irrigation of agricultural land, and river transport in southern Ukraine was hampered.

According to the report, "direct damage to infrastructure and assets amounted to US$2.79 billion, while losses exceeded US$11 billion, with the lasting environmental impact being the biggest concern."

The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant destruction by Russian troops

Kakhovka HPP has been occupied by Russian troops since February 24 last year.

On October 20, 2022, President of Ukraine 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 the Kherson region. At the same time, he listed other consequences of the Kakhovka HPP explosion. Later, the head of the Kherson City Military Administration, Halyna Luhova, addressed residents in connection with Russia's preparation of a terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP. She published an algorithm of actions to be taken in the event of a dam blowing up at the reservoir.

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, Russian occupying forces blew up the Kakhovka HPP, completely destroying it. Evacuation of residents of dangerous areas began, and the President of Ukraine convened an emergency meeting of the Security and Defense Council. More details on how the situation developed on the morning of June 6 can be found here. 

The US is closely studying the evidence in the case of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant explosion.