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Shmyhal: Ukraine to reconstruct Kakhovka dam and power plant

by Elsa Court and The Kyiv Independent news desk July 18, 2023 6:24 PM 2 min read
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, U.K., on June 21, 2023. The talks aim to secure government and business backing for the reconstruction effort. (Andy Rain/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

The Ukrainian government has approved a resolution to start a reconstruction project of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on July 18.

Shmyhal explained that the project is intended to take place in two stages, lasting two years. "At the first stage, we will design all engineering structures, prepare the necessary base for restoration. The second stage will begin after the de-occupation of the territories where the HPP is located. This involves actual construction work."

The dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant across the Dnipro River, occupied by Russian forces, was destroyed on the morning of June 6, 2023, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine.

Within two weeks, the dam's destruction had already caused an estimated $1.5 billion worth of damage to Ukraine.

Sinking memories. Kherson residents recover after Kakhovka dam disaster (PHOTOS)
Editor’s note: The following is a photo essay and a personal reflection on the flooding of Kherson by Ukrainian photographer Anastasia Vlasova, a native of Kherson. Vlasova returned to her hometown days after Russia destroyed Kakhovka dam in early June, resulting in a catastrophic flooding of many c…

Shymal added that project will be coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, with the state-owned energy company Ukrhydroenergo being the project's eventual customer.

The head of Ukrhydroenergo, Ihor Syrota, said on the day of the collapse that Ukraine will build a new power plant and that the company was already consulting with experts on how to quickly block the dam after the liberation.

Kakhovka Dam destruction: Tracking the catastrophe’s aftermath down the Dnipro River (VIDEO)
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam had catastrophic consequences for several southern Ukrainian regions. It destroyed people’s homes, affected the environment, and led to water shortages. The Kyiv Independent went to the affected areas to see the scale of the catastrophe.

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