Ukraine lost more than 10 cubic kilometers of water after Kakhovka HPP blast

Minister for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets said this during the nationwide United News telethon, Ukrinform reports with reference to the ministry’s press service.

"Ukraine has approximately lost more than 10 cubic kilometers of the most valuable resource - water. The area of the reservoir has decreased by about 80%. The once powerful reservoir, which provided drinking water to more than 1 million Ukrainians, was destroyed by the Russians," the minister said.

He emphasized that about 80,000 hectares of protected areas were flooded after the terrorist attack. The national nature parks Nyzhniodniprovskyi, Velykyi Luh and Kamianska Sich expect a gradual and long recovery.

The world may forever lose endemic species of plants and animals, including the sea zander, 70% of the range of the world population of the Nordmann's birch mouse, up to 50% of the range of the sandy blind mole-rat and the thick-tailed three-toed jerboa.

Strilets noted that it might take tens of years to restore the affected ecosystems.

As reported, the amount of damage caused to the environment due to the Kakhovka HPP dam explosion is estimated at about UAH 146 billion.