The high water level at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station (HPP) could have aggravated the situation in the event of the destruction of the power facility. This opinion was expressed in a conversation with Lenta.ru by Professor of the Higher School of Hydropower Construction of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Doctor of Technical Sciences Viktor Elistratov.

Water level

According to the expert, this factor negatively affected the stability of the structure.

In recent days, due to the fact that the regulation took place through the outlet part of the dam, the water level mark was one meter higher than the normal retaining level mark. It may have contributed to the destruction of this dam to a large extent.

Viktor ElistratovDoctor of Technical Sciences

“It collapsed on a large scale, it was not [the result of] a momentary shelling or hit by shells, because the scale of destruction is commensurate with [an explosion] of several hundred or thousands [kilograms] of TNT. Most likely, this happened as a result of a natural decrease in the stability of the structure - as a result of shells hit, destruction that accumulated over time, ”he explained.

The role of the Kakhovskaya HPP in the energy sector

Kakhovskaya HPP was not the most important facility in terms of energy, but it performed other functions, Viktor Yelistratov noted.

“The capacity of the HPP is about 350 megawatts. In terms of energy, this may not be the largest facility, but it has a complex purpose. Accordingly, the consequences of such destruction have systemic damage. It has not generated electricity since November last year, and from the point of view of maintaining the level regime, it played a big role, ”the specialist added.

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The destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station became known on the morning of June 6. The mayor of Nova Kakhovka Vladimir Leontiev said that this happened as a result of the shelling of the Ukrainian side. He called the incident a terrorist attack.

As a result of the incident, Novaya Kakhovka was flooded. Authorities began evacuating residents of nearby settlements.

The Ukrainian company Ukrhydroenergo reported that the Kakhovskaya HPP was completely destroyed and beyond repair.

The Kremlin blamed Kyiv for the incident. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side. In turn, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) due to the destruction of the hydroelectric power station. He instructed to carry out an evacuation from risk areas and provide drinking water to all cities and villages that were provided with water from the Kakhovka reservoir.