June 12, 2023

Ecocide, Russia's Latest Weapon of War


Ecocide, Russia's Latest Weapon of War
Man holding a baby as the water rises in Ukraine. Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings |, Twitter.

While Ukraine slept in the early hours of June 6, the Kakhovka Dam on the Dnipro River was blown up, becoming the region's worst environmental catastrophe since Chernobyl. The floodings in Kherson Oblast displaced thousands, limited the drinking water supply, and destroyed natural habitats, houses, and historical landmarks. As of the publication of this article, 13 persons are confirmed dead.

The Kakhovka Dam was considered one of the most significant construction projects of the Stalin's era. The station provided irrigation, drinking water, and electricity to Southern Ukraine. 

Russian forces occupied the dam on March 16, 2022, and the plant ceased operations later that year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on October 20, 2022, that the occupants had mined the dam to "commit a terrorist attack and blame Ukraine for it." Russia retreated on November 11, 2022, damaging parts of the plant as they left.

An estimated 20 thousand persons will need to relocate due to the flooding caused by the explosion. Some 29 Kherson settlements were affected by the flooding, 10 of them under Russian occupation. The Kyiv Post reported that, in occupied towns, Russian authorities refused to assist residents who did not have Russian passports. Amid evacuation efforts, Russia shelled inundated Kherson, killing one person.

  • The destruction caused by the floods was such that Odesa residents reported finding debris on their coast 126 miles away.
  • The house of self-taught artist Polina Rayko, a National Monument of Ukraine, is now underwater, and all her paintings on the walls are lost. 
  • All animals of the zoo in Nova Kakhovka, the town adjacent to the dam, drowned. Only the ducks survived.
  • Authorities reported that 150 tons of machine oil poured into the Dnipro River due to the explosion.
  • The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is facing a water shortage that threatens maintenance and safety. 
  • Climate activist Greta Thunberg called the attack an ecocide.

On the date of the explosion, the UN celebrated Russian language day.

You Might Also Like

Greenpeace Declared
  • May 21, 2023

Greenpeace Declared "Undesirable"

The Russian General Procurator announced Greenpeace has been declared an "undesirable organization," banning it in Russia.
Flowers for Dnipro
  • January 22, 2023

Flowers for Dnipro

Russians across the country spontaneously mourned the victims of their country's January 14 missile attack on Dnipro, Ukraine, which crushed an apartment building.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955