In an interview with “RIA Novosti”, he emphasized that the restoration of the structure is a complex task, as the hydroelectric power station has suffered significant damage. According to the governor of Kherson, both its above-ground and surface components have been almost completely destroyed.
Mr. Saldo noted that it is currently impossible to organize a comprehensive study of the dam to determine precise timelines for restoration and approximate costs, as the hydroelectric station remains on the front line of combat. The governor stressed that restoring the station is essential because it will aid in the recovery of the region's economy as a whole.
On September 6, Vladimir Saldo stated that the Kakhovka Reservoir has turned into a marshy area a year after the dam's destruction.
The Kakhovka hydroelectric station was demolished on the night of June 6, 2023. Russia and Ukraine accused each other of blowing up the station. Water flooded settlements on both sides of the Dnieper River. As a result of the breach, 59 people died, 175 were hospitalized, and more than 9,000 were evacuated. The Investigative Committee of Russia classified the incident as a terrorist act.
After the dam's breach, the Kakhovka Reservoir, covering an area of 2,155 sq. km, began to rapidly decrease. By October 2023, it reached its lowest levels. In June 2024, Mr. Saldo declared that the reservoir would take at least two years to accumulate water after the dam's reconstruction. He noted that restoring the hydroelectric power station itself would require more than a year after the work begins.
For more details on the disaster at the Kakhovka hydroelectric station, see the article “Ъ” “The Dam of Two Ends”.