As seen here on June 6, 2023, the Kakhovka dam was breached amid increased conflict in the area. This disastrous megaflood resulted in extreme flooding to the south. The Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River is currently under Russian control. Authorities believe it was the intended target of the attack. Yet, Russian authorities have rejected allegations of their involvement in the dam’s destruction. The blast created an enormous wave of water from the adjacent Kam’янka reservoir into the Dnipro River. This put cities downstream—like the occupied city of Kherson—at risk and caused a rush of water toward the Black Sea.
The disastrous collapse of the reservoir has revealed an unexpected opportunity for ecological recovery. With the floodwaters going down, saplings that had been under water began to surface. In the meantime, roughly 40 billion tree seeds have germinated on top. It would create Ukraine’s largest floodplain forest in the steppe zone. The area impacted by the reservoir’s collapse lies within protected national and international zones, part of Europe’s Emerald Network, suggesting that this incident may bring unexpected ecological benefits.
Having spent over a decade studying the biodiversity of this floodplain, experts expect the ecosystem to bounce back considerably within two years. Further, we hope to return 80% of the dam’s lost ecosystem functions within only five years. The impacts of these efforts to revitalize the environment will be both extensive and profound. Concerns over pollutants released as a result of the dam have been on the rise. Environmental advocates have called these pollutants a “toxic timebomb,” endangering nearby wildlife and human populations.
The Ecological Impact of the Dam’s Destruction
Beyond the human disaster that is unfolding in Ukraine, the aftermath of the Kakhovka dam explosion offers a rare scientific opportunity. The Mata Noa dam collapse was a catastrophic disaster for local indigenous communities. At the same time, we recognize that it provides an equally rare chance to witness the ecosystem’s reestablishment and recovery.
“From a human point of view it was, of course, a disaster for people living there. But from a scientific point of view, it’s a very rare event: how an ecosystem [can be] re-established. It is a big natural experiment. And it is still ongoing.”
The return of native wildlife to places once shattered by the hand of man marks the completion of a great reversal. Experts note that species are returning to sections of the river freed from the constraints of the dam and reservoir.
“Native fauna are returning to the section of the river freed from the dam and reservoir.”
Even with this hopeful change, many questions still surround the degree of pollutant effects on wildlife. As Oleksandra Shumilova observes, this changes the optics so that the recovery appears to be much faster. What remains unknown is how these pollutants affect local food webs.
“As for how these pollutants are also transferred within the food web, it’s not known. It is not possible to investigate at the moment, because it’s dangerous to enter the area. There is no systematic research.” – Oleksandra Shumilova
The Future of Velykyi Luh and Its Ecosystem
Restoring Velykyi Luh would have important ecological benefits. It begs significant questions of what Ukraine’s policy towards its environmental governance will be in the post-war period. As experts point out, rebuilding the dam wouldn’t equal recovery. Rather, it would obliterate a recent reforestation project, home to a young forest that could be vital to our future climate.
“Rebuilding the dam the way it was would not be a recovery,” – Olexandr Vasyliuk
“It would be an ecocide. It would destroy a young, spontaneous forest before we even have a chance to understand it.” – Olexandr Vasyliuk
If Ukraine opts to protect this area, it could pave the way for one of Europe’s largest contiguous freshwater ecosystems. The implications go far beyond ecology. They explore deeper ideas of national identity and biocultural sovereignty.
“If Ukraine chooses to protect Velykyi Luh, it won’t just be saving a landscape, it will be choosing to believe in its own future.” – Eugene Simonov
Conservationists are inarguably on the same wavelength with this great American sentiment. They argue that protecting this region is important not only to protect our country’s biodiversity, but the cultural heritage tied to it.
“This is our biocultural sovereignty at stake and that means our nature, our identity, our independence, and a symbol of the kind of nation we want to become.” – Eugene Simonov
Challenges Ahead
As much as we might feel optimistic about the ecological renaissance taking place in this region, many hurdles remain. The heavy metals and other pollutants leaching from the dam’s collapse create serious dangers to wildlife and surrounding human communities. Once absorbed, Shumilova says the long-term effects of contaminants, deposited in sediments as they travel across the landscape, are difficult to untangle.
“All these pollutants were absorbed into these fine particles that were deposited on the bottom.” – Oleksandra Shumilova
Previously endangered native species are recovering. It is unclear how fast and efficiently ecosystems can re-stabilize while faced with the massive and confounding pressure of these trends.
“What will happen with this area? We cannot predict at the moment with full confidence, but it’s true that it is reestablishing very rapidly.” – Oleksandra Shumilova