Revista
de la
Universidad
del Zulia
Fundada en 1947
por el Dr. Jesús Enrique Lossada
DEPÓSITO LEGAL ZU2020000153
ISSN 0041-8811
E-ISSN 2665-0428
Ciencias del
Agro,
Ingeniería
y Tecnología
Año 15 N° 42
Enero - Abril 2024
Tercera Época
Maracaibo-Venezuela
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163
Environmental Consequences of the Explosion of the Kahovsky
Hydroelectric Plant on Biodiversity
Oleksandr Nepsha*
Svitlana Hryshko**
Larysa Prokhorova***
Tetiana Zavialova*****
Valeriy Lysenko*****
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this article is to determine the ecological consequences of the explosion of
the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant (southern Ukraine) on the biological diversity of the
region. The main research methods were: theoretical generalization and system-functional
approach, analysis, synthesis, expedition method. The ecological consequences of the
destruction of a hydroelectric dam are divided into two types: drainage and flooding. As a
result of the flooding, 48 objects of the nature reserve fund, with a total area of 120
thousand hectares, were affected. Aquatic biotopes and biotopes characteristic of
overmoistened areas were the most affected by drainage. 38 rare types of biotopes, which
are under the protection of the Bern Convention, were affected by the ecological disaster;
wetlands of international importance (so-called Ramsar) with an area of 33,000 hectares in
the Dnipro delta and seven objects of the Emerald network. Prospects for further research
are related to the study of biotope restoration after an ecological disaster.
KEYWORDS: Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, Kakhovka reservoir, Biodiversity,
Nature conservation areas, Ecological consequences.
*Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Melitopol, Ukraine. ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3929-9946. Е-mail: nepsha_aleks@ukr.net
** Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Melitopol, Ukraine. ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5054-3893. Е-mail: gryshko245@gmail.com
***Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Melitopol, Ukraine. ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7693-1897. Е-mail: laripr@ukr.net
**** Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Melitopol, Ukraine. ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0040-2611. Е-mail: zavyalova_tatyana@ukr.net
*****Melitopol Insitute of Ecology and Social Technologies, University of «Ukraine», Melitopol,
Ukraine. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3453-1331.
Е
-mail: lysenko-valeriy@ukr.net
Recibido: 05/09/2023 Aceptado: 01/11/2023
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Consecuencias ambientales de la explosión de la Central Hidroeléctrica
Kahovsky sobre la Biodiversidad
RESUMEN
El objetivo de este artículo es determinar las consecuencias ecológicas de la explosión de la
central hidroeléctrica de Kakhovskaya (sur de Ucrania) para la diversidad biológica de la
región. Los principales métodos de investigación fueron: generalización teórica y enfoque
sistémico-funcional, análisis, síntesis, método de expedición. Las consecuencias ecológicas
de la destrucción de la presa de la central hidroeléctrica se dividen en dos tipos: drenaje e
inundación. Como resultado de las inundaciones, se vieron afectados 48 objetos del fondo
de reserva natural, con una superficie total de 120 mil hectáreas. Los biotopos acuáticos y
los biotopos característicos de zonas sobrehumedecidas fueron los más afectados por el
drenaje. 38 especies raras de biotopos protegidos por el Convenio de Berna se vieron
afectados por el desastre ecológico; humedales de importancia internacional (los llamados
Ramsar) con una superficie de 33.000 hectáreas en el delta del Dniéper y siete objetos de la
red Esmeralda. Las perspectivas de futuras investigaciones están relacionadas con el
estudio de la restauración de biotopos después de un desastre ecológico.
PALABRAS CLAVE: Central Hidroeléctrica de Kakhovka, embalse de Kakhovka,
biodiversidad, áreas de conservación natural, consecuencias ecológicas.
Introduction
Ukraine's natural environment is a Russian aggression victim. The war affected
every environmental component the – animal and plant life, water, air, soil. The negative
impact consequences will be long-term and will have not only a local, but also global
character.
The Russian Federation, in addition to the environmental legislation of Ukraine,
grossly violates the International Convention of the EEC (European Economic Commission)
of the United Nations «On the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and
International Lakes», the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar
Convention). According to the data of the State Environmental Inspection, as of January
2023, during the 11 months of military aggression of the Russian Federation, damages to the
ecology of the environment of Ukraine amount to more than 1 trillion 743 billion hryvnias,
or more than 47.6 billion dollars (Belousova, 2023; Pylypiv, 2023). And with every day of
the war, the amount of damage increases significantly.
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Therefore, it is important to take care of an effective monitoring state system of the
natural environment today. State authorities, the public, and scientists should record the
real extent of the damage and involve the international community to prove the fact of
ecocide in Ukraine. All this will be absolutely necessary for the case of compensation for
damage to the environment at the aggressor country expense.
1. Literature review
Issues of environmental protection at the regional and global levels were considered
in many scientific publications of researchers, namely the problems of protection and
greening of forest use (Gulac et al., 2022; Gulac et al., 2022), the relationship between man
and nature (Voronkova et al., 2023; Bondarets et al., 2014), an ecological approach to the
problem of nature use in tourism (Oleksenko et al., 2021; Verkhovod et al., 2022), the
ecological state of water resources (Demchenko et al., 2015; Nepsha & Hryshko, 2020) and
soil resources as a result of anthropogenic stress (Zavialova, 2021) etc.
The hostilities that have been taking place in Ukraine since 2014 and escalated in
2023 pose an ecological and man-made threat to the environment. The state of nature
reserves in the occupied territories is also critical. These issues were considered in the
following works.
Roman L.Y. (2022) notes that as a result of active hostilities, as of April 2022, 900
protected areas of Ukraine have already suffered significant environmental and economic
damage. The total area of damaged protected areas of Ukraine is 1.2 million hectares.
In the research of Ivaniuta S. (2022), the complex of new threats to environmental
and nuclear security because of Russian military aggression against Ukraine is analyzed. A
set of measures to mitigate threats to environmental and nuclear security due to Russian
military aggression against Ukraine are offered.
In another publication, Ivaniuta S. (2023), current problems of the formation of new
threats to ecological security in the conditions of Russian military aggression against
Ukraine are analyzed. The priority directions for countering threats to the environment in
the context of Russian military aggression against Ukraine have been identified.
Mykulets V. (2022) it is shown at the theoretical level of the study the shortcomings
of the Ukrainian legal position concerning the provision of compensation for
environmental damage due to russian aggression. It is proposed to define the concepts of
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«environmental damage» and «environmental damage during the war» at the level of the
relevant Law. The validity of reflecting the position at the level of the law is defended.
In the studies of K. M. Prodan et al. (2023), the impact of military actions in Ukraine
on the ecological state of the atmospheric air, soil cover, water resources and identified
threats to the territories of the natural fund objects was analyzed.
Angurets O. et al. in 2022 prepared the report "Ukraine, damage to the environment,
environmental consequences of war". This report is the results of the research into impacts
of Russia’s military aggression on the environment of Ukraine. It highlights and analyses
the damage that Russian occupiers have caused to the environment during 9 months since
the wide invasion of the war, which started in 2014. Historical examples of how
environment has been affected by the wars and damage compensation mechanisms are
outlined and reviewed in the report.
Albakjaji
М
. (2022), found that the Russian aggression against the Ukrainian
territory has caused severe environmental damages, which cannot go unpunished.
Although traditional international law may be insufficient to punish Russia, customary law,
warfare law, and international environmental law include rules that may be used to raise
the Russian responsibility for these damages.
The article (Terebukh, 2023) outlines the current issues of environmental security in
the context of the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Researcher Boychenko S. (2023) extensively analyzed the profound direct and
indirect environmental effects of the war in Ukraine. These effects can be attributed to
changes in the optical characteristics of the atmosphere, atmospheric pollution caused by
the emission of missile and shell detonation products, and the increasing release of
greenhouse gases and gas-aerosol impurities.
The article (Hrynevych et al., 2023) examines the current economic and ecological
state of Ukraine, considering the influence of such drastic external factors as a military
invasion with the aim of determining the prerequisites for the formation of an effective
social and environmental policy and developing approaches to the improvement and
stabilization of the national economy.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
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To write the article, materials from state institutions of Ukraine, such as the
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State
Institution «Institute of World History of the National Academy of Sciences in Ukraine»,
the State Ukrainian Environmental Inspectorate, PJSC «Ukrhydroenergo» and non-
governmental organizations ₋ «Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group», analytical center
were used «Ukrainian Institute of the Future». Also, the materials for writing this work
were personal field observations of the authors in nature-reserved territories within the
controlled territories of Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
2.2. Methods
To study the negative biodiversity consequences after Kakhovskaya HPP explosion,
we used the following scientific research methods: analysis, synthesis, theoretical
generalization and system-functional analysis allowed us to summarize the existing
information about the ecological consequences of Kakhovskaya HPP explosion dam and
the scale of the ecological disaster; the expedition method made it possible to determine
the actual ecological consequences for biodiversity in drained and flooded areas in the
controlled Ukrainian territories.
3. Result
Kakhovskaya HPP named after Petro Neporozhny is the last (lower) rung of the
Dnipro cascade of hydroelectric power plants. It is located in the south of Ukraine, 0.5 km
from the city of Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region. The Kakhovka HPP provided annual
regulation of the Dnipro flow for power supply, irrigation and water supply in the arid
regions in southern Ukraine. The characteristic features of the Kakhovsky hydraulic unit
were the direct location of a 30 m high earthen dam on the silt, as well as a closed
distribution device. The construction of the Kakhovsky hydraulic unit raised the water
level in the Dnipro River to 16 meters and formed the Kakhovsky Reservoir. Completed
during 1955-1958. The length of the reservoir is 230 km, the averagely width is 9.4 km
(maximum – 24 km). The area was 2155 km², the water volume was 18.19 km³. The
coastline length is 896 km. The maximum depth is 34 m, the average depth is 8.4 m. The
shores are mostly steep, dissected by deep beams, only in some areas they are gentle and
sandy. There are many islands (Tomiltseva et al., 2017).
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On June 6, 2023, Russian troops blew up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric
power station. As of June 14, 2023, about 72% of the water volume, or 14,395 km
3
, has been
lost from the Kakhov reservoir (Figure 1) (Feshchenko, 2023).
Figure 1. Drained sections of the Kakhov reservoir, as a result of the dam explosion
of the Kakhov hydroelectric plant
As the scientists of the public organization "Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group"
note, all the consequences of the destruction of the dam can be divided into two types: the
consequences of draining the Kahovsky Reservoir and the consequences of flooding
(Moisiienko et al., 2023).
Based on previous studies, scientists have identified the following groups of
catastrophic impacts on nature:
Ecological draining consequences of the Kakhov reservoir bottom and water leakage
from it:
a) Impact on fish fauna.
At the time of the terrorist attack, there were no less than
43 species of fish in the Kakhovsky Reservoir alone, of which 20 species are of industrial
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importance (annual catch was up to 2.6 thousand tons). It will take at least 7-10 years to
restore such reserves. All spawning grounds and the main volume of water, which is the
habitat of fish, have been destroyed (Moisiienko et al., 2023; Gilova, 2023).
b) Impact on amphibians and reptiles
. Amphibians and reptiles are the poorest of all
vertebrate classes in terms of species composition. Approximately 15-18 species have been
directly or indirectly affected by the draining of the reservoir. The consequences of the
drainage are ambiguous. Amphibians were at risk due to the destruction of habitats and
spawning waters. It was at this time that larval development was taking place and they
were expected to leave the water bodies. For most reptile species, drained areas can
theoretically become places for settlement and further changes in the population structure.
At the same time, species that depend on aquatic habitats were under pressure and could
die or move with water masses to other areas due to the rapid decline in water.
c) Impact on birds.
Due to the almost complete Kakhovsky Reservoir disappearance, a
number of bird species that nest in these places will disappear in this area (particularly,
martins, terns, etc.) (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
d) Impact on bottom fauna (benthos).
A large number of living organisms inhabiting water
bodies live in bottom mud in the coastal zone - ripali - part of the stream where there is
vegetation and sunlight. Together with the information about the death of the fish
population, it can be stated that the vast majority of all living organisms that inhabited the
Kakhov reservoir have already died or will die in the nearest future. Particularly, a number
of invertebrates that make up the main animal biomass of the reservoir, primarily molluscs
(for example, bivalve molluscs), various species of dipterans (Chironomus, subfamily Culicinae),
which serve as a food base for fish, birds, amphibians, etc. (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
e) Impact on plant life.
As a result of a sharp drop in the water level in the reservoir,
aquatic and coastal-aquatic plants of the Kakhovsky Reservoir will disappear. In general,
the exposed bottom zone of the reservoir will become the largest breeding ground for
dangerous invasive species in the region (At the bottom …,2023; Gilova, 2023; Moisiienko et
al., 2022).
f) Impact on rare biotopes/habitats types. All living organisms coexist in nature and form
biotopes (natural habitats), a kind of "variety of nature", which are also rare and protected
at the pan-European level, because they are important for natural purification and
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maintenance of water balance in the ecosystem. In general, 38 such rare types of habitats,
which are under the protection of the Berne Convention, were found in the territory
affected by the ecological disaster. It was for their protection that the territories of the
Emerald Network were created in Ukraine. Aquatic biotopes and biotopes characteristic of
overmoistened areas will suffer the most from drainage. (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
g) Impact on the territory of the nature reserve fund.
Above the dam of the Kakhovka HPP,
as a result of drainage, a number of nature conservation areas will also be affected,
including at least 11 objects of the nature reserve fund (Moisiienko et al., 2023; Gilova,
2023).
h) Impact on environmental protection objects of international importance. In addition, there
are nature conservation areas of international importance on this territory. The
consequences of the terrorist attack will have a negative impact on the territory of the
Emerald Network UA0000106 Kakhovske Reservoir (218119 hectares) and Velykyi Luh
National Nature Park (SiteCode: UA0000037) (16755.00 hectares), wetlands of
international importance of the Velyki and Mali Kuchugury Archipelago (7740.0 hectares),
Sim Maiakiv Floodplain (2140.0 ha). (Moisiienko et al., 2023; Gilova, 2023).
Ecological consequences of flooding the territories below the destroyed dam:
a) Impact on terrestrial fauna. The almost instantaneous rise of the water level in
the low-lying areas and, even more so, on the islands, left no chance for most terrestrial
animals (mammals, reptiles, insects, etc.) and colonies of most bird species. Thus, 70% of
the world population of the Nordmann's birch mouse
(Sicista loriger)
was flooded, which
may lead to its disappearance in the future. Up to 50% of the population of the sandy blind
mole-rat (Spalax arenarius), up to 50% of the population of the Falz-Fein’s thick-tailed jerboa
(Stylodipus telum falzfeini) were destroyed. These animals, as well as the steppe viper (Vipera
renardi), the Caspian whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius), have no chance to escape in a stormy
stream (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
The Dnipro population of the Danube newt (
Triturus dobrogicus
) is theoretically
extinct. More than 200 individuals of the species, which is listed in the Red Book of
Ukraine and was considered very rare, ended up in the Black Sea off the coast of Odesa
Oblast in the first days after the flooding. Some of them were saved, but most died (More
victims …, 2023).
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b) Impact on nesting colonies of birds. Important nesting sites of wetland and coastal
waterfowl were destroyed in the flood zone. These are tens of thousands of individuals. It
is in the floodplains of the lower Dnipro that the largest colonies of herons and other
colonial birds in the region are concentrated (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
c) Impact on plant life.
The flooded territory is a distribution place of specific flora,
among which there are many species that have a very local distribution in this region,
particularly, they are endemic to the Lower Dnipro sands. It is expected that as a flooding
result, hundred thousands of individuals in these plants will die, which is a significant part
of their total number. As a flooding result, most likely, part of the birch and oak forests will
die, particularly, one of the largest giant oaks of the Kherson region, located in the Zburiiv
Forest near the Dnipro banks. In addition, the flooding will lead to a significant rise in the
groundwater level in the entire southern Ukrainian region. This will mean not only an
increase in moisture in the soil, but also salinization, which is harmful to vegetation. As a
result, both relict natural forest remnants (the legendary Gilea) and artificial forests
created in the past on the Dnipro sands may finally disappear (this circumstance may be
happened in the future expand the zone of negative influence of flooding by another 15-20
thousand hectares) (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
d) Impact on rare biotopes. Sandy biotopes, both coastal and continental, with their
unique flora and fauna, will suffer mostly from flooding. In addition, water biotopes will be
greatly affected due to water pollution. The shallow water bodies that will remain after the
water level recedes will actually be a mixture with a large number of pollutants, including
thousands tens of toilets that are now flooded in cottages and cities (Moisiienko et al.,
2023).
e) Impact on the territory of the nature reserve fund. The vast majority of all natural
territories located in the flood zone are included in the nature reserve fund. Аs a result of
flooding, 48 objects of the nature reserve fund will be completely or partially affected,
including: 1 biosphere reserve; 3 national natural parks, 1 regional landscape park, 16
natural reserves, 3 protected tracts, 22 natural monuments, 2 parks-monuments of garden
and park art. It should be noted that the territory of the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve has
been protected since 1927, and it itself is part of the worldwide network of UNESCO
World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The total area of flooded protected areas may
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exceed 120,000 hectares. Another 22 territories of the nature reserve fund in the flood zone
are in the process of being created (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
f) Impact on the Emerald Network territory.The flooded territory fully or partially includes
9 Emerald Network sites, created by the decisions of the Council of Europe from 2009 to
2020. The loss of the natural features of these territories endangers Ukraine's fulfillment of
its obligations to preserve these territories for the whole Europe (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
In addition, the Cossack Islands with an area 1,000 hectares are classified as important for
bird conservation (IBA) (7 main … 2023)/
g) Impact on wetlands of international importance.
The Dnipro delta with an area 33,630
hectares is included in the list of protected international important areas according to the
Ramsar Convention (wetland 3UA009). In addition, desalination of the northern Black Sea
part may negatively affect 4 more Ramsar wetlands in the region. However, this issue is
completely unexplored, so we cannot say this with certainty (Moisiienko et al., 2023).
4. Discussion
As for the environmental explosion consequences of the Kakhovka hydroelectric
power station dam, they should be called an ecological disaster, a tragedy of a global scale
(ecocide). The area affected by this tragedy covers at least 5 thousand km
2
, which were
flooded or drained. About 72% of the water volume, or 14,395 km
3
, was lost from the
Kakhovka reservoir (Feshchenko, 2023). According to the calculations of the Ministry of
Environmental Protection and Natural Resources in Ukraine, estimated damage amount to
the environment due to Kakhovskaya HPP explosion dam already amounts to more than 55
billion hryvnias (Barsukova, 2023; Bespyatov, 2023).
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources in
Ukraine, 333 animal and plant species with different conservation status and 25 habitat
types were threatened with destruction after Kakhovka hydroelectric plant explosion. Due
to this catastrophe, Ukraine may lose some ecosystems forever, particularly, in the National
Parks " Nizhnyodniprovsky", "Velykyi Luh", "Kamianska Sich" and "Biloberezhja
Svyatoslava", Kinburn Spit Regional Landscape Park, Black Sea Biosphere Reserve. The
Oleshky Sands National Park was indirectly affected (Barsukova, 2023; Bespyatov, 2023).
In the first days after the blow-up of the HPP dam, the Nizhnyodniprovsky National
Park was flooded: the water level near the islands rose by 3 meters on an area of more than
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77,000 hectares. On the territory of the park, there are landslides, water transport of
products of destruction of rocks, buildings and equipment of the national park suffer.
Damages to the national park amount to 46 billion hryvnias (Barsukova, 2023; Bespyatov,
2023).
The flooding affected Emerald Network and Ramsar sites lands, which are of world
importance due to their unique biodiversity, Nizhnyodneprovsk flora and fauna National
Nature Park – 120 valuable protected species. On the territory of the national park, not
only the fauna is disappearing, but also its habitats and reproduction (Barsukova, 2023;
Bespyatov, 2023).
Flooding affected areas where typical and rare floodplain forest groups, swamps,
meadows, sandy steppes, steppe slopes of the Dnipro and streams, and rock outcrops have
been preserved.
One of the main migration bird routes - the Dnipro River - passes through the
territory of the Nizhnyodneprovsk National Park, and the stopping places are very
important for the feeding and rest of migratory birds. In general, 60 species of birds that are
subject to protection live on the territory of the national nature park, which has more than
80 thousand hectares of nature conservation lands (Barsukova, 2023; Bespyatov, 2023).
The Dnipro floodplains have a rich batrachoherpetofauna. The Lower Dnipro is
known for its refugia, isolated local populations of forest species refugia, isolated local
populations of forest species. Rare and endangered species are found here, as well as
amphibian population systems unique to the south (Suriadna & Mykytynets, 2018;
Suriadna et al., 2020). All of this was destroyed during the dam subversion. Directions and
methods of restoration will still need to be developed, but the consequences need to be
recorded today for a scientifically sound calculation of damage.
On the other hand, in the occupied Velikiy Lug national park in the Zaporizhzhia
region, due to the decrease in the water level of the Kakhovsky reservoir, on the contrary,
the wetlands of the "Big and Small Kuchugury Archipelago" are becoming shallow 54
species of fish, 5 species of amphibians, 10 species of reptiles and 156 species of birds that
live on the islands of the archipelago will be under threat due to changes in the ecosystem.
As of June 7, 2023, shallowing of 1.7 meters was recorded, the water moved 17 meters from
the shore, despite the fact that 8 meters is considered a critical indicator (Bespyatov, 2023).
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The Seven Beacons Floodplain archipelago on the territory of the Velikiy Lug
National Nature Park will shallow by approximately 50% when the water level drops by 9
meters, and complete shallowing is expected when the water level drops by 14 meters. So,
47 species of fish will disappear there, and there are risks for 137 fish species (Bespyatov,
2023).
Some populations of amphibians and reptiles within the Velykyi Luh National
Nature Park are of great evolutionary importance in terms of current trends in speciation
and spatial distribution in southern Ukraine.
According to the Academician observations of the National Science Academy in
Ukraine, Yakіv Didukh, plant seedlings have already appeared on the drained territory of
the reservoir a month after the dam destruction. Among which are grasses and seedlings of
trees and shrubs, the vast majority of species are adventive (alien), very durable and
capable of active spread (invasive) (At the bottom …, 2023)
Specialists of the State Environmental Inspection record that the salinity Black Sea
level near Odessa is almost three times lower than normal. Such changes can irreversibly
affected entire ecosystem, lead to mass Black Sea flora and fauna death representatives.
Conclusion
On June 6, 2023, Russian troops blew up the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric
power station, which is located in the southern steppe of Ukraine. As a result of the
detonation of the dam, there was a water overflow from the Kakhovsky Reservoir and
flooding 5,000 km
2
of lower hypsometric level territories, which caused an ecological
disaster for biodiversity. All the ecological destruction consequences of the dam can be
divided into two types: the ecological drainage consequences of the Kakhovsky Reservoir
and the ecological flooding ones.
As a result of the reservoir drainage, the vast majority of all living organisms that
inhabited the Kakhov reservoir have already died or will die in the nearest future.
Particularly, these invertebrate number of that make up the main animal reservoir biomass,
primarily molluscs, various species of dipterans, which serve as a food base for fish, birds,
amphibians, etc. As a result of a sharp decrease in the water level in the reservoir, aquatic
and coastal aquatic plants of the reservoir will disappear. In general, the exposed zone of
the reservoir bottom will become the largest breeding ground for dangerous invasive
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species in the region. Aquatic biotopes and biotopes characteristic of overmoistened areas
will suffer the most from drainage. In general, there are 38 rarely protected biotopes by the
Bern Convention in the territory affected by the ecological disaster. The terrorist attack
consequences will have a negative impact on 243,800 Emerald Network hectares,
Kakhovske Reservoir and Velykyi Luh National Nature Park, wetlands of international
importance, the Great and Small Kuchugury Archipelago, and the Seven Lighthouses
Floodplain. As a result of drainage, 11 objects of the nature reserve fund were damaged.
As a result of the flooding, 48 objects of the nature reserve fund, with a total area 120
thousand hectares, were affected. Including the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve, three national
nature parks – Nizhnyodneprovsk, Whiteshore of Svyatoslav, and Oleshkivsky Pisky. A
large number of small objects are also in trouble: sanctuaries, monuments of nature and
garden and park art, regional landscape park "Kinbournska spit". Flooded areas have many
different international statuses. Particularly, wetlands of international importance (so-
called Ramsar) with an area of 33,000 hectares in the Dnipro delta fell into the disaster
zone. Seven objects of the Emerald network were also affected. This area has the status of
Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), which is necessary for the preservation of bird
populations.
The undermining of the Kakhovskaya HPP will have unprecedented consequences
not only directly for the south of Ukraine, but also for the entire country. Moreover, the
change in the salinity level and the increase in Black Sea pollution affects the ecosystem of
the entire Black Sea region, which means the ecological situation of a number of Black Sea
countries. So this ecocide act takes on international proportions. First, fresh water fish will
get into the sea and die there. Second, the dam collapse led to the release of a large fuel and
lubricant amount into the water (at least 150 tons on the first day alone), which are toxic.
As a result of the hydroelectric power plant rupture, populated areas were flooded,
and with them various sources of pollution, for example, cesspools, sludge dumps, landfills,
cemeteries, landfills, warehouses with toxic chemicals - all this will also enter the river
systems and the Black Sea and affect living organisms.
Ecosystem destruction, soil and water space pollution, biodiversity reduction, pest’s
number increase in forests is far from a complete list of environmental problems that
Ukraine will face after the end of the war. It can be assumed that the future ecological
disaster in Ukraine will have not only a local, but also a regional character, since the
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contamination of water and marine ecosystems, groundwater with possible radiation,
chemical or toxic waste will have a cross-border impact on some European countries.
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