Three days after the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, on the night of Monday June 5 to Tuesday June 6, attributed by Ukraine and its allies to the Russian armed forces which controlled the area, the waters of the reservoir continue to flow into the bed of the Dnieper, flooding large areas, sometimes several kilometers wide, especially on the left bank of the river, held by the Russian army.
Kiev evacuated about 2,300 residents, mainly in Kherson, a large city in southern Ukraine located about 65 kilometers downstream from the dam, while the number of evacuations on the Russian side is estimated at 5,800. The human toll rose Friday to thirteen dead: eight on the side of the areas controlled by the Russian army, five on the Ukrainian side. “According to forecasts, the rising waters can last another ten days”estimated Vladimir Saldo, the Ukrainian leader of the occupied part of the Kherson region, on the social network Telegram.
High-resolution satellite images from US companies Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs released in recent days show the extent of flooding, particularly on the left bank, controlled by the Russian military, after the partial destruction of the dam in two clear sections.
Kakhovka hydroelectric dam (Ukraine)
Photographed on June 5 and then June 7, 2023.
Photo credit: Maxar
Immediate vicinity of the Kakhovka dam (Ukraine)
Photographed on June 5 and then June 6, 2023.
Photo credit: Planet Labs PBC
The image below, which extends in its width for about 30 kilometers, shows the overflow of the bed of the Dnieper, caused by the influx of water from the large Kakhovka reservoir located upstream.
The Dnieper downstream of the Kakhovka dam (Ukraine)
Photographed on June 5 and then June 6, 2023.
Photo credit: Planet Labs PBC
The region of the city of Korsunka was particularly affected on the southern side.
The Dnieper at Korsunka (Ukraine)
15 kilometers downstream from the dam. Photographed on June 5 and then June 6, 2023.
Photo credit: Planet Labs PBC
The village is now completely under the waves.
The town of Korsunka (Ukraine)
15 kilometers downstream from the dam. Photographed on May 15 and then on June 7, 2023.
Photo credit: Maxar
The same situation for the small town of Krynky, occupied by the Russians and located about 2.3 kilometers south of the main course of the Dnieper.
The city of Krinky (Ukraine)
21 kilometers downstream of the dam. Photographed on May 15 and then on June 7, 2023.
Photo credit: Maxar
The town of Olechky, also located just over two kilometers south of the river, had just over 24,000 inhabitants before the war broke out. Most of its territory is under water. Only part of the center remains emerged.
The city of Olechky (Ukraine)
55 kilometers downstream of the dam. Photographed on June 5 and then June 7, 2023. The bed of the Dnieper is located 2.2 km further north.
Photo credit: Planet Labs PBC
The large city of Kherson (about 280,000 inhabitants) was also flooded, mainly on its southern part, submerged by two to three meters of water.
The city of Kherson (Ukraine)
67 kilometers downstream of the dam. Photographed on June 5 and then June 7, 2023.
Photo credit: Planet Labs PBC