Gauging the Impact of the Kakhovka Dam Collapse in Ukraine

The collapse of a major dam in southern Ukraine will damage crop yields and force Kyiv to adjust (but not fundamentally alter) its emerging counteroffensive plans. The incident could also impact both Russia and Ukraine's militaries depending on several factors, including how water flows stabilize in the coming weeks and months. On the morning of June 6, the dam in Kakhovka, which sits on the Dnieper River and is the site of the city's hydroelectric power station, was severely damaged when its gates collapsed. It was not immediately clear whether the damage was the result of an explosion -- both Kyiv and Moscow blame each other -- or from wear due to previously sustained damage. For now, only the dam's gates and the power plant's upper works have failed and been completely swept away. Although the underwater parts of the dam remain intact, the situation could significantly worsen if the...