Ukraine: Fear of water pollution after the partial destruction of the Kakhovka dam

NATO is holding a meeting on June 8 to coordinate relief efforts after the partial destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, which will be attended by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmitro Kuleba. kyiv continues to blame Moscow, and vice versa. Meanwhile, the water held back by the dam continues to rise in dozens of cities and towns in the Kherson region, on both banks of the Dnieper River. The destruction of the dam has flooded an area of ​​more than 600 km2, as announced by a Ukrainian governor.

With information from the special envoy of France 24 in Ukraine, Gulliver Cragg

Only a part of the city of Kherson is under water: lThe smallest part of the city, which was already the most affected by Russian artillery fire, being closer to the river. The rescue operation was in full swing on Wednesday, with all kinds of boats. Ships transported by road between Nicolaiev and Kherson were also seen.

“There are many people who want to help”

Volunteers are moving in to try to help, as are military personnel, including drone operators who have moved in to rescue people, bringing them bottles of water and other supplies. In many places in the city of Kherson, and also in other surrounding villages, the water reached the roofs of the houses.

“We are working throughout the Dnieper, where the worst damage has been done. We help those who are closest to the floods. We are giving them food, but some people don’t even have running water anymore, and large parts of the city are without electricity. Rescue teams go out by boat to search for residents, sometimes even on rooftops because the water level is very high in some places. We are evacuating them in buses to safe areas, helping them buy everything they need: clothes, shampoo, toothpaste, we are trying to make their lives easier…”, explains Aleksandr Ribalka, a member of the NGO Support Kherson, who help the victims of the catastrophe.

“Many people need help. But there are also many people who want to help. We are also coordinating all this help through Telegram. In just two days, we have received almost 800 requests to come help our region. It is very valuable,” he stresses. .

There are all the other dangers that these waters bring: a large amount of oil from the machinery of the hydroelectric power plant has leaked into the water, causing pollution. Cemeteries have also been flooded, leading to further water pollution. Local officials, as well as Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, fear this is a problem.

On Wednesday, the French president spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart. Condemning a “hateful act that endangers the population”, Emmanuel Macron announced the shipment of aid in the next few hours to respond to the “immediate needs” of Ukraine.

Volodimir Zelensky visits the affected region this Thursday: “Working trip to the Kherson region. Coordination meeting to deal with the consequences of the Kakhovka dam explosion“, he published on his social networks, stating that he wanted in particular to “compensate the residents affected by the catastrophe.”