Experts investigate the ongoing environmental disaster caused by Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka HPP

Despite the fact that it will soon be a year since the Russians treacherously blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, experts from Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise continue to conduct a range of research to fully establish the consequences of the environmental disaster caused by the enemy in the South of Ukraine. On the occasion of the Environment Day of Ukraine, which is celebrated on April 20, UNN asked the specialists of Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise what aspects of the Kakhovka HPP explosion they are currently focusing on.

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According to experts, the pre-trial investigation authorities are constantly discovering new circumstances and facts that are the consequences of the hydroelectric power plant explosion, and therefore these things also require separate research and full-fledged expert opinions.

"Work is ongoing to establish the consequences of the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant by the Russian military. The situation is complicated by the systematic continuation of the appointment of relevant studies on the fact of this tragedy, as the situation is changing and new circumstances arise. For example, the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant led to  rapid shallowing of the reservoir and a massive fish kill in the Maryanske Zelenodolske community. Questions are being addressed about the consequences in the context of bioresources, the damage caused to the fishery, and how long it will take to restore ecological balance. It is worth noting here that the destruction of even a small number of fish can have serious consequences for the ecosystem that will be felt for a long time. There are dozens of similar cases - these are directly related events and each such incident should be properly investigated," note the environmental experts of KFI.

They add that they are currently working on hundreds of different studies on the facts of Russian war crimes that have caused damage to the environment of Ukraine.

"Hundreds of studies are currently underway on the facts of Russian crimes against the environment, including fields mutilated by shells and bombs, burned forests, the threat of extinction of hundreds of species of animals and plants due to the loss of habitat, dangerous air for people due to fires at oil depots, pollution of the Black and Azov Seas, threats to nuclear energy facilities, etc.", - conclude the experts of KFI.

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Director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise Oleksandr Ruvin previously saidthat the area of actual physical damage caused by the Russians' explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant last June is larger than that caused by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

"If we talk about the actual physical destruction, then yes, it is bigger... Apparently, in the current disaster caused by Russia, a larger area was actually affected than the Chornobyl exclusion zone. We just hope that the consequences of the hydroelectric power plant explosion can be eliminated faster. It is possible to restore the hydroelectric power plant itself, the dam, water intake, and restore the previous conditions. I don't know if it will be in 5, 10 or 20 years, but it is possible," said Mr. Ruvin.