Ukrainian Experts Urge Unesco to Protect Nova Kakhovka Site

Ukrainian historians, archaeologists, and ecologists are urging Unesco to designate the great meadow as a World Heritage site. The area was uncovered following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam on June 6, 2023, an act attributed by most analysts to Russian forces. The collapse drained 18 cubic kilometers of water, revealing a landscape of wetlands, grasslands, and archaeological sites spanning from the Mesolithic era to the 20th century.

While over 100 Ukrainian NGOs support the preservation bid, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has initiated a pilot project with the state-owned company Ukrhydroenergo to prepare for the dam's reconstruction to support southern farmlands.

Experts warn that rebuilding the structure would cause further environmental damage. Underwater archaeologist Valeriy Nefedov characterized the initial construction and the subsequent explosion as crimes, while biologist Pavlo Oliinyk argued that rebuilding the dam would constitute a third ecocide.