A major dam on the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine has collapsed, leading to flooding in nearby villages and a threat to crops in the country. The Kakhovka dam is one of the largest in the world and is used for hydroelectric power generation. Russian and Ukrainian officials have both accused the other side of causing the flooding and environmental damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades”. About 16,000 people were evacuated from the region, though no injuries or deaths were reported.
Russian and Ukrainian forces have been at war for 16 months. Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the dam to halt its counteroffensive, while Russia claims the dam was destroyed by Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area. Analysts expressed surprise at the dam’s collapse, which may have been due to degradation rather than intentional destruction. However, experts had previously warned that the ageing dam posed a risk of catastrophic collapse, which could lead to the flooding of several Ukrainian cities.
The dam’s destruction has caused concern over the impact on global food supplies. Wheat prices immediately rose by 3%, though it is unclear whether floodwaters will destroy crops. Ukraine and Russia are both major suppliers of wheat, barley and sunflower oil to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. Concerns have also been raised about water supplies to Crimea, which has been occupied by Russian forces. Environmental and civil engineering experts have warned for months that the dam was at risk of failing.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, when Russian incursions led to the annexation of Crimea. This sparked a separatist movement in eastern Ukraine which has lasted ever since. The situation has been further complicated in recent months by Russia building up a large military presence on the Ukrainian border.
