Briefing on the environmental damage caused by the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

While Ukraine continues to mitigate the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP dam, the invaders are targeting other dams and continue committing environmental crimes.

As of the morning of June 19, a decrease in water levels following the blowing up of the Kakhovka Dam is recorded. The flooding level near Kherson is at 0.79 meters, which is over 4.8 meters lower than the maximum recorded level. The volume of the Kakhovka Reservoir has decreased by 14.5 billion cubic meters. Seventeen populated areas on the right bank of the Dnipro River and 17 populated areas in the temporarily occupied territory remain flooded.

The up-to-date information on the environmental damage caused by the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP dam by Russians is available on the official EcoZagroza website and application of Ukraine’s Ministry of Environmental Protection. Currently, the resource provides information on the estimated monetary value of environmental damage, the number of flooded populated areas, and the loss of water from the reservoir.

The Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka dam is an environmental catastrophe not only for Ukraine but for the entire continent. Minister Ruslan Strilets stated this in a live broadcast on CNN’s Connect the World.

Ruslan Strilets emphasized that by blowing up the Kakhovka Dam, Russia wasted over 18 cubic kilometers of freshwater. The terrorist country deepens the climate crisis as the dam explosion has resulted in over 50,000 hectares of Ukrainian forests being flooded, and at least half of them are at risk of dying.

He underscored that as a result of the Russian crime, dead fish and animals, the oil spill of at least 150 tons, sewage waste, chemicals, and pesticides from fields are drifting down the Dnipro River into the Black Sea, which washes the shores of 6 countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia. The Black Sea is connected to the Mediterranean, which washes Europe and the Middle East.

"Ukraine relies on international support to overcome the environmental consequences of the war and to hold Russia accountable," - emphasized Ruslan Strilets.

On June 14, an online meeting took place with scientists and experts to assess the environmental impact of the blowing up of the Kakhovka dam and discuss ways to mitigate the impact.

Minister Ruslan Strilets, together with representatives of the scientific community, discussed the possibilities of monitoring the affected areas and developing proposals for creating mathematical and geographical models, ensuring water supply to the region, conducting agricultural work and organizing research expeditions to the affected area.

"On the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, we are preparing a recovery plan for the region affected by the blowing up of the Kakhovka dam. Our Ministry continues to evaluate the situation. Today, we are not only talking about environmental losses but also launching a global discussion on the future development of the entire country,"  - emphasized Ruslan Strilets.

Nuclear and radiation safety threats

On June 13, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Rafael Grossi, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The head of state emphasized that as a result of Russia's deliberate blowing up of the Kakhovka dam, which is the most significant ecocide crime of our time, the risks to the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Planthave significantly increased. Therefore, a swift and decisive response from the international community to this audacious terrorist act is crucial.

The President reiterated that the only way to prevent a nuclear incident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is its complete demilitarization, liberation from Russian occupation, and restoration of Ukrainian control over the plant.

According to Energoatom, despite the blowing up of the Kakhovka dam by Russian occupiers, the situation remains under control. As of June 14, the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir in the area of Nikopol continues to decrease, while the level in the cooling pond of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains unchanged at 16.67 meters. This level is sufficient to meet the needs of the plant.

The water level in the canal, from which the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's cooling pond is replenished when necessary, is at 11.21 meters. Over the recent period, the water level in the canal has not significantly decreased, and its indicators are no longer dependent on fluctuations in the Kakhovka reservoir. The power units of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant have not been operational since September 2022, so active water evaporation from the cooling pond has not been occurring since then.

Recent attacks on infrastructure and industrial sites

On June 10, fragments of a downed Russian suicide drone hit a residential building in Odesa. Three people were killed, and 26 were injured.

On June 11, Russian forces blew up the dam on the Mokri Yalı River in the Donetsk region. By destroying the hydro facilities, the aggressors are attempting to slow down the counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On June 13, the occupiers carried out a massive attack with missiles and drones:

• in Kryvyi Rih, civilian facilities and a five-story residential building were damaged. One of the missiles hit a storage facility for bottled water intended for Kherson. 11 people were killed.
• in Kharkiv, a municipal enterprise in the Kyiv district and a warehouse in the Saltiv district were damaged, resulting in a fire caused by an explosion.

On June 14, Russian forces launched missile strikes on Odesa. One of the missiles hit a storage facility of a retail network, causing destruction and fire. 3people were killed, and 13 were injured.On June 15, Russian troops again attacked Kryvyi Rih with missiles, targeting two industrial plants. Significant damage was inflicted on production facilities, and gas pipelines were damaged.The destruction of the Kakhovka dam by Russia could lead to the leakage of chemicals, oil, and gasoline used in residential, agricultural, industrial, and commercial areas. Even a small amount of chemicals is sufficient to contaminate soil and water bodies, making access to clean water difficult for thousands of people. Flooding in industrial zones, from where chemicals will be washed downstream, could cause severe pollution of the Black Sea and coastal areas.According to Ukrhydroenergo, the Kakhovka HPP equipment and oil storage contained 465 tons of oil, which is highly likely to have leaked into the environment. The flooding area also includes territories of the Kherson oil depot, river, and sea ports, which are also locations for the storage of petroleum products and hazardous waste. The flooding zone includes 15 gas stations (9 in the city of Kherson and 6 in Oleshky), with 7 gas stations completely inundated on the right bank of the Dnipro River.

Pollution caused directly by hostilities

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, from February 24, 2022, to June 16, 2023, 401,281 explosive objects were neutralized on the territory of Ukraine. An area of 900 square kilometers has been surveyed.

According to an updated assessment by the Initiative on GHG accounting of war, greenhouse gas emissions attributable to twelve months of the war totaled to 120 million tCO2 e. This is equivalent to the total GHG emissions produced over the same period in a country like Belgium.

The burning of diesel, gasoline, and aviation fuel is estimated to have resulted in emissions of 18.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent. Additional emissions of 3.1 million tons of CO2 equivalent were caused by the production and use of artillery shells and other ammunition, as well as the destruction and damage of equipment and the construction of extensive fortifications.

The number of fires larger than one hectare has increased 36-fold compared to the pre-war period of 12 months. These fires are primarily observed in close proximity to the front line, with many leading to the destruction of forested areas. The total volume of additional emissions from war-related fires is estimated at 17.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent.

The total volume of emissions associated with infrastructure restoration is estimated at 50.2 million tons of CO2 equivalent.

This is one of the impacts of the war that will be felt not only in Ukraine but also far beyond its borders, including countries of the Global South and, in particular, the least developed countries, which are often the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

Such an impact will involve both a direct increase in the risks of catastrophic climate change effects (rising temperatures, waves of extreme heat, droughts, heavy rains, and other natural disasters, loss of biodiversity, etc.) and a potential risk of redirecting financial resources from emissions reduction and climate change adaptation efforts towards security and militarization. While countries and companies worldwide are seeking solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the war continues to generate millions of tons of CO2 emissions every month.

Damage to natural reserves and protected ecosystems

Due to the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam, thousands of species of animals and plants, which have different conservation statuses, are now at risk of extinction. Approximately 20,000 wild animals inhabited the flooded area.

As of June 14, the area of flooded forests in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions is 63,689 hectares, which accounts for 30% of the total area of the forestry enterprises and branches in these regions.

As of June 16, the water level in the area of the Lower Dnipro Nature Park is gradually receding. The current average level is about 1.9 meters. The shallowing of the water continues in the Great Meadow National Park. The water level in the Kamianska Sich National Park has decreased by over 11 meters. The wetland complexes of Velyki ta Mali Kuchuhury Archipelago and Seven Lighthouses Bay have completely dried up.

The nests of migratory birds such as common eider, great egret, shelduck, black-winged stilt, pied avocet, and white-tailed eagle have been flooded, and next year dozens of other species will arrive here and not survive because they will have nowhere to nest. Plants and endemic animals are dying underwater. For example, a rodent called the Felzfein thick-tailed three-toed jerboa, a species that only inhabits the south of Ukraine.

On June 13, the Tuzla Estuaries National Park employees in the Odesa region saved 55 newts. Unfortunately, another 149 newts were found dead. The newts, which are a rare species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, were carried to the Black Sea coast by the waters of the Dnipro River.

Newts do not live in saline water. Therefore, the surviving newts were transported to the Danube Biosphere Reserve, where they were released into different sections of the river and its tributaries. According to experts' estimates, they are expected to adapt well to the waters of the Danube.

According to the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, wildfires have been raging on the Kinburn Peninsula in June. This is indicated by the data from the satellite service FIRMS (NASA). The peninsula has been cut off from mainland Ukraine by the flood. The road in the area of Heroiske village, which connected the peninsula to the mainland, is completely flooded. It is no longer possible to reach the peninsula by land transportation.

Damage to freshwater resources

Due to the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP dam, the water is being contaminated with chemicals and pesticides. The bottom of the Kakhovka reservoir is covered with tons of dead fish. Dead animals and fish, waste from cesspools and toilets, and remnants from cemeteries are being washed into the Black Sea.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has intensified monitoring of chemical indicators of water quality in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. For this purpose, 2 mobile laboratories were sent to Kherson. Samples collected on June 14 showed an exceedance of the maximum allowable concentration of suspended solids by 1.44 times near the Antonivsky railway bridge on the Dnipro River. The indicator is 36.0 mg/dm3. The total iron content is also elevated by 1.9 times. No petroleum products were detected in the water.

According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, in the affected regions, 38 monitoring points for biological indicators of surface water quality in rivers and the sea have been established along the river banks and the coastline in the Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions.

Currently, significant exceedances of microbiological indicators have already been recorded in surface water bodies, so swimming or using such water for food processing is prohibited. Additionally, it is strictly forbidden to catch and consume fish from contaminated water bodies.

According to the Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy of Ukraine’s Parliament, the damage to state property caused by the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP amounts to UAH 150-160 billion.

Without restoring the water supply source, it is impossible to restore irrigated agriculture in southern Ukraine in the near future. The Kakhovka reservoir served as a source of irrigation for 94% of the systems in the Kherson region, 74% in the Zaporizhzhia region, and 30% in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The reservoir also provided water for irrigation on 584,000 hectares of land.

The decrease in the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir has made it impossible to supply drinking water to the population of the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions, including over 200,000 residents of the cities of Nikopol, Marganets, Pokrov, and Tomakivka. Problems with water supply may also arise in the city of Kryvyi Rih. Flooding the floodplain of the Dnipro River hampers the water supply to the city of Mykolaiv from the water intake facility on the Dnipro River.

Black and Azov Seas

Due to the dam breach caused by the Russian attack on the Kakhovka HPP, a rapid flow of debris, fragments of various objects, boats, and even building structures is carried by the Dnipro River and partially washed into the Black Sea. The currents also swept away the explosive barriers that the occupiers had set up on the Dnipro’s left bank. Currently, a large number of mines are drifting in the water along the river's flow.

A temporary decrease in the salinity of the water has been recorded in the Black Sea. Samples of seawater were collected by experts from the State Environmental Inspection in Odesa at Nova Dofinivka, Langeron Beach, and at the 16th station of the Great Fountain. The salinity is on average three times lower than the norm.

The decrease in salinity will affect zooplankton, fish, and dolphins. The dead phytoplankton will sink to the lower layers of the sea and consume a "large amount of oxygen," converting oxygen zones into hydrogen sulfide zones. This will affect the inhabitants of the marine bottom, as reported by Viktor Komorin, the director of the Ukrainian Scientific Center for Marine Ecology.

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