Kakhovka reservoir: no alternative but restoration, scientists warn

On June 6, Vitaliy Pichura and Larysa Potravka, scientists from Kherson State Agrarian and Economic University, presented the findings of a large-scale study on the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). Their key conclusion: the reservoir cannot be fully replaced and must therefore be restored. The full study is available on SuperAgronom.com.

This is the first comprehensive scientific and social project based on field research, calibration, and interpretation of satellite imagery from Sentinel-2, Sentinel-3, Landsat 8, and Landsat 9. Previous studies were limited in scope and often based on assumptions, whereas this research offers an objective assessment of the disaster’s impact.

The destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam on June 6, 2023, led to the draining of the Kakhovka Reservoir—previously the main water source for southern Ukraine, a region already suffering from severe water shortages.

The drainage of the reservoir, compounded by climate change, has resulted in moisture deficits, vegetation loss, exposed soils, increased soil temperatures, and large-scale secondary salinization.

A lack of snow cover, frosts, and drought in early 2025 further worsened the condition of winter crops. By early May, approximately 40% of these crops had dried up.

The formation of rain clouds has also changed, leading to a decline in both the frequency and volume of precipitation across southern Ukraine.

The study examined all possible options to meet southern Ukraine’s annual water demand—over 1.2 billion cubic meters. The results are sobering: none of the alternatives are viable.

• Using reserves from the Dnipro Reservoir cannot fully meet demand and may trigger new environmental issues, disrupt water availability, and alter the hydrological regime of the Lower Dnipro.
• Drawing water directly from the Dnipro River within the drained reservoir area is unfeasible, especially during low-water years, and cannot guarantee even minimum supply levels.
• Creating a network of groundwater wells would accelerate the depletion of strategic reserves, replace freshwater aquifers with saline seawater, and cause another wave of shortages, soil compaction, degradation, and salinization.
• Desalinating water from the Black and Azov Seas is economically unviable, energy-intensive, and unable to meet demand at scale.
• Using treated wastewater and surface water from Kherson would irrigate only about 9,500 hectares—or just 3% of the actual irrigated area in the region as of 2022.

A survey of 189 Kherson region residents revealed strong support for restoring the reservoir. Over 81% believe it should be refilled using modern technologies, and 85.7% are convinced the region’s prosperity depends on its operation.

As a compromise solution, the scientists recommend restoring a smaller version of the reservoir and transforming its upper section into a meadow-forest ecosystem.

To achieve this, they propose constructing a dam to isolate the shallow upper third—preserving the vegetation that has already emerged—while refilling the remaining 66% of the reservoir with water.

• On July 18, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution to launch a pilot project to begin rebuilding the Kakhovka HPP.
• Ukrhydroenergo has stated it is ready to restore the plant within five years after the territory is liberated.