The recent collapse at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station has triggered a humanitarian crisis with wide-ranging, multi-year consequences for communities on both sides of the Ukrainian conflict, according to Martin Griffiths, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, speaking during a Security Council session. The UN is preparing to respond, but officials warn that delivering aid will be a complex and challenging operation given the scale of damage and the difficult access in many affected areas, including zones still under dispute.
Griffiths underscored the UN’s deep concern for civilians living in damaged towns and villages where communications have been severed and basic services are strained. The organization stands ready to dispatch representatives and humanitarian missions promptly to areas under Russian control as the situation warrants, with a continued emphasis on preserving access and protecting civilians in the most vulnerable pockets of the crisis.
In the early hours of June 6, the upper portion of the Kakhovskaya facility suffered a catastrophic breach in the Kherson region near Novaya Kakhovka. The flooding rapidly affected dozens of settlements, including the city of Kherson itself and the nearby town of New Kakhovka, compounding the dangers faced by residents who were already dealing with displacement, water shortages, and disrupted livelihoods.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused one another of causing the dam’s failure, while another theory points to pre-existing structural weaknesses. UkrhydroEnergo has stated that the station was destroyed beyond repair, signaling a long-term loss of capacity in the regional power grid and raising concerns about water security, agriculture, and daily life for residents across multiple districts.
Within this broader context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed questions about resource shortages and public health during a recent press conference. Authorities warn that drinking water supplies may become strained in several regions as the crisis unfolds, highlighting the need for rapid, coordinated response efforts to stabilize essential services and support local communities in the weeks and months ahead.