Ukrainian student in Northeast Ohio reflects on dam collapse in her hometown

A Ukrainian woman currently going to college in Northeast Ohio has a direct connection to the recent events in her home country.

On Tuesday, the Kakhovka dam collapsed in southern Ukraine, causing concerns over drinking water and electricity supply, mass flooding, and threats to agriculture. According to officials in the region, more than 4,000 people have been evacuated from the area.

Dana Krukovska grew up in Kakhovka, Ukraine, forced to flee with her parents when her community came under Russian occupation early in the war. Through the Ukrainian Freedom Scholars Program, she came to Ohio, to study at Ashland University and continue her education.

Krukovska said Kakhovka HPP was a sort of a landmark in the Kherson region, and was a familiar sight when she would return home from travels.

“For me, for all people who live near Kakhovka HPP, it was something special, something unique,” she said. “For example, every time you go back home from Kherson to your town, and when you are going through Kakhovka HPP, you call your parents and say, ‘hey mom, I’m driving through Kakhovka HPP, I will be at home in 15 minutes.’”

According to region officials, flood levels reached about 18 feet in some areas after the dam collapsed, submerging communities. Krukovska said she has heard of rescue and evacuation efforts taking place, but acknowledged the challenges, given part of the area is under Ukrainian control, while the other has been occupied by Russian forces.

Officials say more than 200 square miles of the region were submerged this week. Russia and Ukraine are pointing the finger at one another for the destruction.

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