'Ecological Catastrophe' Underway Following Destruction of Nova Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine

"Ecological catastrophe" could occur following the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine, as reported fears grow regarding its potential environmental repercussion to wildlife and nearby communities.

The country's President Volodymyr Zelensky also acknowledged the dangers posed by the dam, as the war between Ukraine and Russia continues.

Nova Kakhovka Dam Incident

As of Wednesday, June 7, a continuous rise of water levels has been reported after the Russian-occupied dam and hydroelectric power plant was "destroyed" on Tuesday, June 7. The incident forced more than 1,400 people to evacuate as flooding submerged towns, cities, and farmland, CNN reported.

The destroyed dam, situated in the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine, saw floodwaters on knee-level, with footage showing houses and gardens being inundated, the Guardian News reported.

Zelensky described the dam incident as an "environmental bomb of mass destruction," as cited by CNN.

Dams and the Environment

Dams are massive structures that serve as a wall or barrier that restricts the flow of large amounts of water from different bodies of water or even man-made water reservoirs. Aside from providing water supply to the general public, dams are also used to suppress floods and act as emergency storage in times of need, especially during a drought.

When it comes to the environment, dams can affect both terrestrial and marine animals by altering the flow of rivers. The structures can trap sediment and bury rock riverbeds where fish can spawn, according to the charity organization American Rivers.

Dam Removal Projects

In previous years, multiple dam removal projects also equated to the return of the local ecosystem for several fish species.

Dam removal restores the natural flow of a river and promotes the increase of biodiversity since vegetation and habitats are restored as well, according to the Columbia University.

In 2011, two massive hydroelectric dams were removed along the Elwha River in Washington state. Prior to their removal, the dams blocked migrating salmon from reaching their spawning grounds in nearly 100 years, according to the university.

Russia Ukraine War

For more than a year, the Russia Ukraine war has persisted as of June 2023 even after Ukrainian forces made a significant advantage in driving off Russian soldiers inside Ukrainian territory compared to last year.

Despite retaliation, Russian forces are still present in the eastern part of Ukraine, controlling several establishments such as power plants and even dams like the Nova Kakhovka. It is unclear if the said destruction of the dam was a result of a direct attack or structural failure, according to CNN.

However, various reports in the past have suggested that structures in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine are at high risk of getting damaged or destroyed, mainly due to the exchange of fire between the Ukrainian and Russian military.

President Zelensky reportedly accuses Russia of "criminal liability" in connection with the dam incident and prosecutors in Ukraine are investigating the case as an "ecocide," the U.S. media outlet said.