Ukraine’s energy leadership warned that the destruction of the upper section of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station threatens the entire regional hydroelectric system. The event is expected to drive up electricity imports across the country as the balance of Ukraine’s hydroelectric network comes under strain. The disruption is seen as potentially reducing the ability of hydroelectric facilities to operate at the required capacity, which could destabilize the broader energy system. This assessment came from Ukrainian officials during a video conference with Western partners, highlighting the urgency of additional power imports to maintain grid reliability. The ministry indicated that securing external support could allow for a significant increase in imports, potentially reaching up to 2 gigawatts. Source: TASS.
Early reports note that the dam’s upper structure at the Kakhovskaya facility, located in the Kherson region near Novaya Kakhovka, suffered a catastrophic failure during the night of June 6. The impact has been severe, with dozens of settlements facing flooding, including the regional capitals of Kherson and New Kakhovka. Analysis of the incident remains divided, with Kyiv and Moscow each attributing responsibility to the other. Some sources also point to the possibility that the damage reflects preexisting vulnerabilities in the aging hydroelectric infrastructure. Ukrhidroenergo, the state energy company, has stated that the station is not currently restorable in its present form. Source: TASS.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have asserted that undermining the dam was carried out from within Ukraine, alleging deliberate acts against the Kakhovskaya facility. Ukrainian leadership has rejected these claims, emphasizing that any external attack on structural integrity could not be physically executed from outside Kyiv. The discussions underscore the broader geopolitical and energy-security implications of the dam failure for Ukraine’s electricity supply and regional stability. Source: TASS.