On the morning of June 6, russia created perhaps the largest man-made disaster in Europe in recent decades. The lives of thousands of civilians are at risk. Find out what are the consequences of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant explosion and why russia took this step

Get involved in an urgent fundraiser to help the injured animals of Kherson region

DONATE

The morning of June 6 began with terrible news for Ukrainians. russian troops blew up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, causing a technological disaster of unprecedented proportions, endangering the lives of thousands of civilians in about 100 Ukrainian settlements. According to Ukrhydroenergo, the hydroelectric power plant was completely destroyed and cannot be restored.

Kakhovka Dam explosion: what is known

Currently, the water level in Nova Kakhovka has reached a critical level, in some areas the water has reached the roofs of houses, the city center with the district administration is also in water, the local zoo "Fairy Tale Grove" is flooded, all animals have died. The dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was also completely submerged.

An emergency evacuation was announced from the right-bank Kherson region, including Kherson, and water is beginning to arrive in the city. On the islands near Kherson, the water level has reached the roofs of buildings. At the same time, russia continues to shell the region, preventing the evacuation of civilians. 

There have been no reports of evacuation of the temporarily occupied left-bank part of the region, so it is clear that russia is not helping local residents leave the flooded areas. In addition, the terrorist state flooded its first line of defense along the Dnipro River with its own hands, without even warning its own army, which remained trapped in the water to prevent a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Aid for the victims of the Kakhovka Dam explosion

The population of Kherson region is being evacuated by bus and train. All transit routes go through Mykolaiv. Then people are sent to Kyiv, Odesa, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi and other cities of Ukraine.

According to the latest information, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has started registering financial assistance for people evacuating due to the flooding. To register, you need to contact one of the two transit points located in Mykolaiv. 

Please note! Representatives of the Danish Refugee Council are wearing vests with the appropriate logo.

Documents required for registration

● passport

● individual tax number (TIN).

If necessary, DRC staff also provide free legal advice to victims of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant explosion.

Evacuation after the Kakhovka HPP explosion: what to do and where to go

For information on evacuation locations in the Korabelny district of Kherson, please call the hotline:

(+38) 099 736 22 30

Additional information can be obtained by calling the city hotline:

(+38) 050 040 44 24

(+38) 098 958 17 90

Residents of starosta districts should contact their starosta directly regarding evacuation.

Free evacuation from Kherson region is offered by a volunteer organization. For more information, please call:

Helping to Leave call center +38 (093) 177-64-58,

Vostok SOS hotline: 0800 332 614,

Save Ukraine Charitable Foundation: 093-69-69-788.

Telegram Vostok SOS:

096-108-60-48

Viber Vostok SOS:

099-710-48-72

099-311-53-14

Evacuation assistance from the Kherson hub:

0 (95) 214 76 05,

0 (99) 973 11 76,

0 (95) 346 29 49.

Crisis response line of the Ministry of Reintegration: 15-48.

Kirovohrad region is hosting victims of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant explosion, 5000 places are available for accommodation.

Please contact the regional headquarters for resettlement:

0522-305-039

096-160-75-34

095-193-79-04

Important! Take your animals with you during the evacuation. If this is not possible, untie them and let them out. Give them a chance to escape on their own.

Visit Ukraine on social media: Telegram | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

What are the consequences of the Kakhovka HPP explosion for the world and Ukraine?

Both banks of the Dnipro River are currently under threat, with the left bank being lower, and therefore the water arrives there faster. In addition to the obvious flooding of settlements and the risk to human and animal life, russia has caused the largest man-made man-made disaster in the world in recent decades, which will destroy the ecology in the southern part of Ukraine. 

World hunger

The explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant will affect the lives of hundreds of people, as the disaster will inevitably affect the irrigation system in southern Ukraine, and thus could lead to famine in many countries, including Africa.

We wrote more about why Ukrainian grain is extremely important for the world here.

Nuclear disaster

In addition, the Zaporizhzhia NPP is under threat, as the reactors are cooled by the Kakhovka HPP. Now the water level in the reservoir continues to drop, and if this figure drops to critical levels, even more civilians will be at risk, as the issue of nuclear accidents at nuclear power plants will arise.

Lack of drinking water in southern Ukraine and Crimea

The North Crimean Canal, which supplies fresh water to the entire southern part of Kherson region and the annexed Crimea, is tied to the water level in the Kakhovka Reservoir. Therefore, russia can leave hundreds of thousands of people without water. After all, when the water level drops to a certain level, drinking water intakes will stop working.