In a conversation reported by a major newspaper, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany, Oleksiy Makeev, outlined a stark funding outlook for 2024. He stated that more than 14.1 billion dollars will be required this year to rebuild the country after the collapse of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Berliner Morgenpost is cited as the source for these figures.
The diplomat noted that approximately 3.3 billion dollars of this total has already been earmarked within the Ukrainian budget. He explained that the money is intended to support the restoration of the city, critical infrastructure, and key industrial sectors that underpin daily life and economic activity across affected regions.
Makeev added that Ukraine’s agricultural sector, with a particular focus on grain production, faces substantial risk from the disaster. He warned that the sinking of the dam could inflict long-term damage on farming operations, supply chains, and export capacity. The fishing industry also sustained severe losses, compounding the challenge for rural communities and coastal towns.
In the Kherson region, during the night of June 6, the upper section of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station in the Nova Kakhovka area suffered a catastrophic failure. The disaster triggered widespread flooding in Kherson, Novaya Kakhovka, Naked Pier, and Alyoshka, with some settlements nearly submerged. Water levels reportedly rose by as much as 12 meters in certain places, triggering emergency evacuations and profound disruption to daily life.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of orchestrating the dam’s destruction, though the precise cause remains under investigation. Investigators are weighing multiple hypotheses, including the possibility of preexisting structural damage contributing to the collapse. The assessment is still underway as authorities seek a definitive explanation.
Volodymyr Saldo, who served as the acting governor of the Kherson district, reported that the collapse led to the evacuation of more than 6,000 residents from the flood zone by the morning of June 10. The unfolding emergency underscores the scale of displacement, the strain on local resources, and the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian and reconstruction efforts.