FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6 June, 2023 

Kyiv, Ukraine -
Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the massive Kakhovka dam, which provides water to a large number of civilians, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and will flood huge territories. The local mayor has defined the event as a “terrorist act”. Also lost is one of major sources of clean renewable energy for Ukraine, which has already had roughly half of its energy infrastructure destroyed by russia.

Ukrainian Svitlana Romanko, Director of Ukrainian organization Razom We Stand, stated:
“Destruction of Kakhovka hydro dam, the fifth largest in Ukraine, is a striking violation of Geneva Conventions and one of the heaviest brutal war crimes against environment, population and clean energy committed by fossil fuelled russian terrorists. We’ve lost one of the major sources of renewable energy, and production with the capacity of 334.8 MW which can not be restored. This is how the climate crisis, external fossil fuelled aggression and energy insecurity look like - severe environmental damage, increased emissions that will likely replace this destroyed capacity, 14 cities flooded and many thousands displaced. 

The reaction we need from the US, EU and G7: move fast and hard on sanction enforcement, close loopholes and cut all purchases of russian fossil fuels – we need a full and complete embargo, including on fossil gas, LNG and oil products from third countries. Every dollar or euro russia receives from exports of oil and gas is turned into means of terror for Ukraine, Europe and the planet and is financing murders and destruction of Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, while fueling the climate crisis. Money flows that feed russia’s aggression have to be cut now.”

Tweet from Razom We Stand/Svitlana Romanko is here: “A striking #warcrime by russian terrorists: Kakhovka hydro dam was destroyed this morning. We’ve lost one of major sources clean #renewableenergy, huge territories will be flooded. Reaction we need from #US #EU and #G7: cut ties with #russian #fossifuels by enforcing #FullEmbargo.”

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Notes to editors:

PRESS CONTACT: Jason Kirkpatrick, jason@razomwestand.org

Professional photos of Svitlana Romanko are available here, copyright free unless otherwise noted on image. Ms. Romanko has been successful in influencing Ukraine government planning for clean energy, supported by President Zelensky, to rebuild Ukraine's future energy system with clean energy as a model to lead Europe.
Ms. Romanko's twitter is: @SvitlanaRomanko