Impacts of Ukraine dam destruction will be felt for decades
Jun 08, 2023
By Ryan Robertson (Anchor, Investigative Reporter), Brian Spencer (Editor)
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below.
Learn more about this dataLeft 30%
Center 27%
Right 42%
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Volodymyr Zelenskiy visits flooded Kherson as evacuations continue – video
Click to see story on The Guardian
Russia ‘launches bomb attacks on civilians fleeing floods’ after dam shelling
Click to see story on Daily Mirror
Zelenskyy visits Kherson amid flooding
Click to see story on USA Today
Ukraine calls for international rescue of civilians as dam attack in Russia-occupied Kherson floods region
Click to see story on CBS News
Zelensky reported that Russian troops bombed rescue teams working on the evacuation of Kherson
Click to see story on Infobae
Russia shells civilians fleeing dam collapse in southern Ukraine
Click to see story on NBC News
Russia bombs school where flood evacuees were sheltering after Zelenskyy visits Kherson
Click to see story on Politico Europe
Ukraine Dam’s Destruction Increases Mines Threat: Red Cross
Click to see story on The Moscow Times
Ukraine dam flood: Russia targets rescuers in Kherson
Click to see story on Channel 4
Click to close
Ukraine dam: Dislodged mines a major concern as residents flee Kherson
Click to see story on BBC News
Ukraine wary of floating mines, disease spreading after Kakhovka dam collapse
Click to see story on Reuters
Mines uprooted in Ukraine dam disaster could pose danger for years to come: Red Cross
Click to see story on Channel News Asia
Ukraine dam breach uprooted unknown number of mines
Click to see story on RTÉ
Rescue efforts continue in Kherson after thousands of homes flooded in Ukraine
Click to see story on Sky News UK
Destruction of Ukraine Dam Raises Landmine Threat, Red Cross Says
Click to see story on VOA News
Zelenskiy Visits Areas Hit By Flooding As Rescue Efforts Under Way In Southern Ukraine
Click to see story on Radio Free Europe/ RadioLiberty
Headline Unavailable
Click to see story on Radio France Internationale
Zelensky arrived in flood zone near Kherson
Click to see story on Tagesschau
Click to close
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visits Kherson amid flooding; watch!
Click to see story on Times of India
During the day, the Ministry of Emergency Situations evacuated more than 300 people from the flooded areas of the Kherson region
Click to see story on TASS [🇷🇺-affiliated]
Evil Putin shells Ukrainian rescue boats desperately trying to save civilians from flood-ravaged Kherson after dam blast
Click to see story on The Sun
Red Cross: Ukraine dam’s destruction increases mines threat
Click to see story on Malay Mail
Thousands flee flooded homes in Ukraine
Click to see story on Bangkok Post
Mines uprooted in Ukraine dam disaster could pose danger for years to come
Click to see story on Times Live
LIVE – War in Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky in the Kherson region for a “coordination meeting”
Click to see story on Le Figaro
Five people died after the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station
Click to see story on RIA Novosti [🇷🇺-affiliated]
Mines pose further threat after Ukraine dam disaster
Click to see story on Business Live
Zelensky accuses Russia of continuing to bomb Kherson
Click to see story on Sapo
Warning of landmine risk to evacuees after dam breach in Ukraine
Click to see story on 9News
Flood area under fire: Russians fire on rescuers
Click to see story on Bild
Click to close
Far
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
The catastrophe in Kherson region: the area of flooding and the average water level are named
Click to see story on Glavcom.ua
Zelensky calls Russians “savages” for shooting during evacuations from flooded areas
Click to see story on Observador
Zelensky arrived in Kherson region and checked the ferry for evacuation
Click to see story on ZN.UA Зеркало недели
The Russian army fired at rescuers, two sappers were wounded
Click to see story on Korrespondent.net
Russia is bombing Kherson while rescuing flood victims
Click to see story on Jornal de Notícias
Zelensky denounces Russian artillery attacks during rescue work in Kherson
Click to see story on Noticias de Navarra
Zelensky visita Kherson para coordenar operações de emergência
Click to see story on Noticias ao Minuto
Attracts the attention of the world. X-Men star Liev Schreiber published a photo of flooded houses in Kherson region
Click to see story on Новое Время
How does the destruction of the Kakhovka dam affect the Ukrainian offensive?
Click to see story on La Voz de Galicia
Mines uprooted in Ukraine dam disaster could pose danger for years to come – Red Cross
Click to see story on WTVB
Flooded Kherson targeted by a strike on the 470th day of war in Ukraine
Click to see story on 20 Minutes
Mines uprooted in Ukraine dam disaster could pose danger for years to come, says Red Cross
Click to see story on The Economic Times
Ukraine wary of floating mines, disease spreading after Kakhovka dam collapse
Click to see story on The Toowoomba Chronicle
Zelensky visits Kherson to coordinate rescue efforts for the dam disaster
Click to see story on El Tiempo
Zelensky visits Kherson to coordinate emergency operations
Click to see story on www.dnoticias.pt
Red Cross warns of mines in flood areas
Click to see story on n-tv.de
Zelensky accuses Russia of continuing to bomb Kherson while rescuing victims
Click to see story on SIC Notícias
After Zelensky’s visit, invaders shelled Kherson during the evacuation of the population, there are dead and wounded (video)
Click to see story on Fakty.ua ФАКТЫ
Zelensky came to Kherson. “We have to answer many questions.”
Click to see story on Do Rzeczy
In the sinking Kherson area, occupiers leave people to die: families sit on the roofs of houses and beg for help they won’t get
Click to see story on lrytas.lt
Ukraine: visiting Kherson, Zelensky hails the work of rescuers
Click to see story on LExpress.fr
They don’t know where they are being housed yet. The upset residents of Kherson do not want to leave their homes
Click to see story on www.sme.sk
Landmines were washed away by the flood in Ukraine, says entity
Click to see story on CNN Brasil
The leadership of the Russian administration of the Kherson region: the speed of the Dnieper increased tenfold after the dam was blown up
Click to see story on RTVI
“Maybe ours will come and take us out?” Residents of the occupied part of Kherson region talk about the flooding and ask for help
Click to see story on currenttime.tv
Click to close
58 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
58
Leaning Left
10
Center
9
Leaning Right
14
Last Updated
11 months ago
Two days after the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine was destroyed, authorities are still trying to get a handle on just how far-reaching the destruction is and will be. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited some of the flooded regions Thursday to monitor rescue efforts. Russians then started shelling the area, forcing rescuers to jump for cover.
Russia and Ukraine both blame the other for destroying the dam, but Russia has controlled the site for months and Ukraine lacks the means to destroy the dam from the air. Also, all available evidence shows it was destroyed from the inside.
The timing of the dam’s destruction is more than a little peculiar as well. Ukraine was launching probing attacks along the front lines Sunday and Monday, which could have been the start of its much-anticipated counteroffensive. Hours later, the dam was destroyed.
From a purely militaristic standpoint, blowing the dam makes sense for the Russians. At the very least, it impedes Ukraine’s counteroffensive and takes away the possibility of crossing the Dnipro River to attack. Also, instead of focusing purely on its own offensive, Ukraine now has to help the tens of thousands of people and pets displaced by the flooding.
So far, it seems Ukraine is alone in that endeavor. Zelenskyy told reporters he was amazed at the lack of response from international humanitarian organizations. More than 48 hours after the dam’s destruction, neither the Red Cross nor the United Nations had sent help. In addition to the tens of thousands of newly homeless Ukrainians, hundreds of thousands of people now don’t have access to safe drinking water.
The flood waters also displaced buried land mines. When the waters recede, there’s no telling where many of those mines will end up. It’s a deadly problem that could take a decade or more to defuse.
The reservoir created by the Kakhovka Dam fed the cooling lines for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. There is a pond near the plant that will help, but there’s only enough water in the pond to last a few months according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Beyond the immediate concerns, the full scope of the destruction and the financial costs likely won’t be known for years. More than 260 square miles of Ukraine’s southern region are under water, and more than a million acres of the world’s most productive agricultural land could turn to desert now that it can’t be irrigated. If Ukraine can’t find a way to keep that land producing, millions around the world could starve.
Reuters contributed to this report.
TWO DAYS AFTER THE KAKHOVKA DAM IN SOUTHERN UKRAINE WAS DESTROYED, AUTHORITIES ARE STILL TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON JUST HOW FAR-REACHING THE DESTRUCTION IS AND WILL BE. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY VISITED SOME OF THE FLOODED REGIONS THURSDAY TO MONITOR RESCUE EFFORTS. THE RUSSIANS THEN STARTED SHELLING THE AREA, FORCING RESCUERS TO JUMP FOR COVER.
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE BOTH BLAME THE OTHER FOR DESTROYING THE DAM, BUT RUSSIA HAS CONTROLLED THE SITE FOR MONTHS AND UKRAINE LACKS THE MEANS TO DESTROY THE DAM FROM THE AIR. ALSO, ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE SHOWS IT WAS DESTROYED FROM THE INSIDE.
THE TIMING OF THE DAM’S DESTRUCTION IS MORE THAN A LITTLE PECULIAR AS WELL. UKRAINE WAS LAUNCHING PROBING ATTACKS ALONG THE FRONTLINES SUNDAY AND MONDAY, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN THE START OF ITS MUCH-ANTICIPATED COUNTEROFFENSIVE. HOURS LATER, THE DAM WAS DESTROYED.
FROM A PURELY MILITARISTIC STANDPOINT, BLOWING THE DAM MAKES SENSE FOR THE RUSSIANS. AT THE VERY LEAST, IT IMPEDES UKRAINE’S COUNTEROFFENSIVE AND TAKES AWAY THE POSSIBILITY OF CROSSING THE DNIPRO RIVER TO ATTACK. ALSO, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING PURELY ON ITS OWN OFFENSIVE, UKRAINE NOW HAS TO HELP THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND PETS DISPLACED BY THE FLOODING
AND SO FAR, IT SEEMS UKRAINE IS ALONE IN THAT ENDEAVOR. ZELENSKYY TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS AMAZED AT THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS. MORE THAN 48 HOURS AFTER THE DAM’S DESTRUCTION, AND NEITHER THE RED CROSS NOR THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE SENT HELP. IN ADDITION TO THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEWLY HOMELESS UKRAINIANS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE NOW DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER.
THE FLOOD WATERS ALSO DISPLACED BURIED LAND MINES. WHEN THE WATERS RECEDE, THERE’S NO TELLING WHERE MANY OF THOSE MINES WILL END UP. IT’S A DEADLY PROBLEM THAT COULD TAKE A DECADE OR MORE TO DEFUSE.
THE RESERVOIR CREATED BY THE KHAKHOVKA DAM FED THE COOLING LINES FOR THE ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. THERE IS A POND NEAR THE PLANT THAT WILL HELP, BUT THERE’S ONLY ENOUGH WATER IN THE POND TO LAST A FEW MONTHS ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY.
BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE CONCERNS, THE FULL SCOPE OF THE DESTRUCTION AND THE FINANCIAL COSTS LIKELY WON’T BE KNOWN FOR YEARS. MORE THAN 260 SQUARE MILES OF UKRAINE’S SOUTHERN REGION ARE UNDER WATER, AND MORE THAN A MILLION ACRES OF THE WORLD’S MOST PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL LAND COULD TURN TO DESERT NOW THAT IT CAN’T BE IRRIGATED. IF UKRAINE CAN’T FIND A WAY TO KEEP THAT LAND PRODUCING, MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD COULD STARVE.
FOR MORE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING ABOUT THE WAR IN UKRAINE, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS DOT COM.
Related
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below.
Learn more about this dataLeft 30%
Center 27%
Right 42%
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
+0
Click to close
Volodymyr Zelenskiy visits flooded Kherson as evacuations continue – video
Click to see story on The Guardian
Russia ‘launches bomb attacks on civilians fleeing floods’ after dam shelling
Click to see story on Daily Mirror
Zelenskyy visits Kherson amid flooding
Click to see story on USA Today
Ukraine calls for international rescue of civilians as dam attack in Russia-occupied Kherson floods region
Click to see story on CBS News
Zelensky reported that Russian troops bombed rescue teams working on the evacuation of Kherson
Click to see story on Infobae
Russia shells civilians fleeing dam collapse in southern Ukraine
Click to see story on NBC News
Russia bombs school where flood evacuees were sheltering after Zelenskyy visits Kherson
Click to see story on Politico Europe
Ukraine Dam’s Destruction Increases Mines Threat: Red Cross
Click to see story on The Moscow Times
Ukraine dam flood: Russia targets rescuers in Kherson
Click to see story on Channel 4
Click to close
Ukraine dam: Dislodged mines a major concern as residents flee Kherson
Click to see story on BBC News
Ukraine wary of floating mines, disease spreading after Kakhovka dam collapse
Click to see story on Reuters
Mines uprooted in Ukraine dam disaster could pose danger for years to come: Red Cross
Click to see story on Channel News Asia
Ukraine dam breach uprooted unknown number of mines
Click to see story on RTÉ
Rescue efforts continue in Kherson after thousands of homes flooded in Ukraine
Click to see story on Sky News UK
Destruction of Ukraine Dam Raises Landmine Threat, Red Cross Says
Click to see story on VOA News
Zelenskiy Visits Areas Hit By Flooding As Rescue Efforts Under Way In Southern Ukraine
Click to see story on Radio Free Europe/ RadioLiberty
Headline Unavailable
Click to see story on Radio France Internationale
Zelensky arrived in flood zone near Kherson
Click to see story on Tagesschau
Click to close
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visits Kherson amid flooding; watch!
Click to see story on Times of India
During the day, the Ministry of Emergency Situations evacuated more than 300 people from the flooded areas of the Kherson region
Click to see story on TASS [🇷🇺-affiliated]
Evil Putin shells Ukrainian rescue boats desperately trying to save civilians from flood-ravaged Kherson after dam blast
Click to see story on The Sun
Red Cross: Ukraine dam’s destruction increases mines threat
Click to see story on Malay Mail
Thousands flee flooded homes in Ukraine
Click to see story on Bangkok Post
Mines uprooted in Ukraine dam disaster could pose danger for years to come
Click to see story on Times Live
LIVE – War in Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky in the Kherson region for a “coordination meeting”
Click to see story on Le Figaro
Five people died after the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station
Click to see story on RIA Novosti [🇷🇺-affiliated]
Mines pose further threat after Ukraine dam disaster
Click to see story on Business Live
Zelensky accuses Russia of continuing to bomb Kherson
Click to see story on Sapo
Warning of landmine risk to evacuees after dam breach in Ukraine
Click to see story on 9News
Flood area under fire: Russians fire on rescuers
Click to see story on Bild
Click to close
Far
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
The catastrophe in Kherson region: the area of flooding and the average water level are named
Click to see story on Glavcom.ua
Zelensky calls Russians “savages” for shooting during evacuations from flooded areas
Click to see story on Observador
Zelensky arrived in Kherson region and checked the ferry for evacuation
Click to see story on ZN.UA Зеркало недели
The Russian army fired at rescuers, two sappers were wounded
Click to see story on Korrespondent.net
Russia is bombing Kherson while rescuing flood victims
Click to see story on Jornal de Notícias
Zelensky denounces Russian artillery attacks during rescue work in Kherson
Click to see story on Noticias de Navarra
Zelensky visita Kherson para coordenar operações de emergência
Click to see story on Noticias ao Minuto
Attracts the attention of the world. X-Men star Liev Schreiber published a photo of flooded houses in Kherson region
Click to see story on Новое Время
How does the destruction of the Kakhovka dam affect the Ukrainian offensive?
Click to see story on La Voz de Galicia
Mines uprooted in Ukraine dam disaster could pose danger for years to come – Red Cross
Click to see story on WTVB
Flooded Kherson targeted by a strike on the 470th day of war in Ukraine
Click to see story on 20 Minutes
Mines uprooted in Ukraine dam disaster could pose danger for years to come, says Red Cross
Click to see story on The Economic Times
Ukraine wary of floating mines, disease spreading after Kakhovka dam collapse
Click to see story on The Toowoomba Chronicle
Zelensky visits Kherson to coordinate rescue efforts for the dam disaster
Click to see story on El Tiempo
Zelensky visits Kherson to coordinate emergency operations
Click to see story on www.dnoticias.pt
Red Cross warns of mines in flood areas
Click to see story on n-tv.de
Zelensky accuses Russia of continuing to bomb Kherson while rescuing victims
Click to see story on SIC Notícias
After Zelensky’s visit, invaders shelled Kherson during the evacuation of the population, there are dead and wounded (video)
Click to see story on Fakty.ua ФАКТЫ
Zelensky came to Kherson. “We have to answer many questions.”
Click to see story on Do Rzeczy
In the sinking Kherson area, occupiers leave people to die: families sit on the roofs of houses and beg for help they won’t get
Click to see story on lrytas.lt
Ukraine: visiting Kherson, Zelensky hails the work of rescuers
Click to see story on LExpress.fr
They don’t know where they are being housed yet. The upset residents of Kherson do not want to leave their homes
Click to see story on www.sme.sk
Landmines were washed away by the flood in Ukraine, says entity
Click to see story on CNN Brasil
The leadership of the Russian administration of the Kherson region: the speed of the Dnieper increased tenfold after the dam was blown up
Click to see story on RTVI
“Maybe ours will come and take us out?” Residents of the occupied part of Kherson region talk about the flooding and ask for help
Click to see story on currenttime.tv
Click to close
58 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
58
Leaning Left
10
Center
9
Leaning Right
14
Last Updated
11 months ago
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