Nova Kakhovka

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'''Nova Kakhovka''' ({{langx|uk|Нова Каховка}}, {{IPA|uk|noˈwɑ kɐˈxɔu̯kɐ|IPA}}; is a [[List of cities in Ukraine|city]] in [[Kakhovka Raion|Kakhovka district]], [[Kherson Oblast]], southern [[Ukraine]]. Nova Kakhovka has been under [[Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast|Russian occupation]] since February 2022. Its estimated population in 2022 was {{Ua-pop-est2022|44,427|.|showyear=false}}

'''Nova Kakhovka''' ({{langx|uk|Нова Каховка}}, {{IPA|uk|noˈwɑ kɐˈxɔu̯kɐ|IPA}}; {{langx|ru|Новая Каховка|Novaya Kakhovka}}) is a [[List of cities in Ukraine|city]] in [[Kakhovka Raion]], [[Kherson Oblast]], southern [[Ukraine]]. Nova Kakhovka has been under [[Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast|Russian occupation]] since February 2022. Its estimated population in 2022 was {{Ua-pop-est2022|44,427|.|showyear=false}}

Nova Kakhovka is an important port city on the east bank of the [[Dnieper|Dnieper River]], where it meets the downstream end of the [[Kakhovka Reservoir]]. It forms one abutment of the [[Kakhovskyi Bridge]] over the hydroelectric [[Kakhovka Dam]];{{cite news |title=Ukraine strikes crucial bridge in Nova Kakhovka |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/08/11/ukraine-strikes-crucial-bridge-in-nova-kakhovka |agency=BBC Russian Service |publisher=Meduza |date=10 August 2022}} the other is located in [[Beryslav]].{{cite news |title=Ukrainian troops hit Kakhovka Bridge, enemy air defense systems |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3557664-ukrainian-troops-hit-kakhovka-bridge-enemy-air-defense-systems.html |publisher=Ukrinform |date=25 August 2022}} The city lies immediately downstream of the source of the [[North Crimean Canal]] that irrigates the [[Crimea|Crimean Peninsula]] and can be said to control the seat of the channel.{{cite news |title=Russia captures key water supply route to annexed Crimea |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2022/02/25/Russia-captures-key-water-supply-route-to-annexed-Crimea |agency=AFP |publisher=Al Arabiya Network |date=25 February 2022}}

Prior to the full-scale invasion, Nova Kakhovka was a young and flourishing city. Due to its extensive parkland, it held the status of a "garden city."{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArdVjHrZvxI |title=Нова Каховка — це Україна. Хоробрі міста • Ukraїner |date=2022-07-27 |last=Ukraїner |access-date=2026-04-17 |via=YouTube}} {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqCaoVQXsWM |title=Нова Каховка - Перлина степу. Частина 1 (осінь) |date=2023-02-26 |last=КАХОВСКИЙ ДРОН |access-date=2026-04-17 |via=YouTube}}A unique architectural feature was the "stone embroideries" - ornamental facade panels inspired by Ukrainian folk art. The prominent film director Oleksandr Dovzhenko played a significant role in shaping the city's architectural and cultural identity, having been actively involved in its planning.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-06 |title=Поема про море: цитати українських митців про Нову Каховку |url=https://vogue.ua/article/culture/art/poema-pro-more-ukrajinski-mitci-pro-novu-kahovku-52513.html |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=vogue.ua |language=uk}} {{Cite web |date=2026-04-15 |title=Кам’яні вишиванки Нової Каховки |url=https://uhe.gov.ua/media_tsentr/novyny/kamyani-vyshyvanky-novoyi-kakhovky |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=Укргідроенерго |language=uk}}

On 6 June 2023, the [[Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam|dam was deliberately destroyed]], causing catastrophic drainage of the reservoir. At the time, the dam was [[Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast|under the control]] of the [[Russian military]], which had seized it in the early days of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].{{cite news |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan |title=Thousands flee homes as collapse of dam is blamed on Russian forces |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/06/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-blowing-up-nova-kakhovka-dam-near-kherson |access-date=6 June 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=6 June 2023 |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606045359/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/06/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-blowing-up-nova-kakhovka-dam-near-kherson |url-status=live }}

Nova Kakhovka is an important port city on the east bank of the [[Dnieper|Dnipro River]], where it meets the downstream end of the [[Kakhovka Reservoir]]. It forms one abutment of the [[Kakhovskyi Bridge]] over the hydroelectric [[Kakhovka Dam]];{{cite news |title=Ukraine strikes crucial bridge in Nova Kakhovka |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/08/11/ukraine-strikes-crucial-bridge-in-nova-kakhovka |agency=BBC Russian Service |publisher=Meduza |date=10 August 2022}} the other is located in [[Beryslav]].{{cite news |title=Ukrainian troops hit Kakhovka Bridge, enemy air defense systems |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3557664-ukrainian-troops-hit-kakhovka-bridge-enemy-air-defense-systems.html |publisher=Ukrinform |date=25 August 2022}} The city lies immediately downstream of the source of the [[North Crimean Canal]] that irrigates the [[Crimea|Crimean Peninsula]] and can be said to control the seat of the channel."aanafp">{{cite news |title=Russia captures key water supply route to annexed Crimea |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2022/02/25/Russia-captures-key-water-supply-route-to-annexed-Crimea |agency=AFP |publisher=Al Arabiya Network |date=25 February 2022}}

The city of Nova Kakhovka has been under Russian occupation since February 24, 2022. {{Cite web |title=- YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DAOMZMeo_dU?is=0oF-GayAiaMOpzh7 |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=www.youtube.com}}{{Cite web |title=600 днів окупації Нової Каховки: пригадуємо події першого місяця війни |url=https://novakahovka.city/articles/318667/nova-kahovka-700-dniv-okupacii |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=Нова Каховка.City |language=uk}}

The residents of Nova Kakhovka actively opposed the occupation by organizing protests, the largest of which took place on March 6, 2022, gathering thousands of people in the square in front of the city administration. {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ3FBh3uUwc |title=Нова Каховка — це Україна! В окупованому місті багатотисячний мітинг з українськими прапорами |date=2022-03-06 |last=Українська правда |access-date=2026-04-17 |via=YouTube}} The "Yellow Ribbon" resistance movement is also very active in the city; its participants manifest their opposition to the Russian occupation by painting symbols and hanging ribbons.{{Cite web |title=People urged to tie yellow ribbons in support of Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territories |url=https://english.nv.ua/nation/people-urged-to-tie-yellow-ribbons-in-support-of-ukrainians-in-russian-occupied-territories-50285422.html |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=NV |language=en}}

On 6 June 2023, the [[Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam|dam was deliberately destroyed]], causing catastrophic drainage of the reservoir triggering one of Europe's largest man-made disasters since the Chornobyl accident. The resulting flood partially submerged Kherson and Nova Kakhovka, while almost entirely drowning the cities of Oleshky and Hola Prystan, along with numerous other settlements. In Nova Kakhovka, the disaster led to the immediate destruction of the 'Kazkova Dibrova' Zoo, where hundreds of animals perished within their enclosures, unable to escape the rapidly rising water levels.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64NsrW3AVB8 |title=Ukraine dam: Thousands flee floods after dam collapse near Nova Kakhovka - BBC News |date=2023-06-06 |last=BBC News |access-date=2026-04-17 |via=YouTube}} {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm47yGX1MGk |title=Dam destroyed in Russian occupied Ukraine {{!}} 7NEWS |date=2023-06-06 |last=7NEWS Australia |access-date=2026-04-17 |via=YouTube}} {{Cite web |last=Войтюк |first=Юрій Свиридюк, Ярослав Прищепа, Надія Собенко, Анастасія Іванців, Тетяна |date=2023-06-06 |title=Що відомо про підрив Каховської ГЕС росіянами |url=https://suspilne.media/498142-rosijska-armia-pidirvala-kahovsku-ges/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=Суспільне {{!}} Новини |language=uk}}At that time, the dam was [[Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast|under the control]] of the [[Russian military]], which had seized it in the early days of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].{{cite news |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan |title=Thousands flee homes as collapse of dam is blamed on Russian forces |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/06/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-blowing-up-nova-kakhovka-dam-near-kherson |access-date=6 June 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=6 June 2023 |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606045359/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/06/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-blowing-up-nova-kakhovka-dam-near-kherson |url-status=live }}

Currently, the city is subject to systematic Russian shelling. Strikes on residential areas and infrastructure have been recorded, resulting in significant destruction. {{Cite web |title=Росіяни скинули авіабомбу на житловий квартал у Новій Каховці (фото, відео) |url=https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/rosiyani-skinuli-aviabombu-zhitloviy-kvartal-1694770316.html |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=РБК-Украина |language=uk}}{{Cite web |title=Нова Каховка: обстріли, перебої зі світлом і водою, життя у чергах |url=https://novakahovka.city/articles/403185/nova-kahovka-obstrili-pereboi-zi-svitlom-i-vodoyu-zhittya-u-chergah |access-date=2026-04-17 |website=Нова Каховка.City |language=uk}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/y4jeKZmiXuw |title=У т.о. Новій Каховці російські окупанти скинули коригувану авіабомбу з літака Су-34 |language=en |access-date=2026-04-17 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROUlKmRWZgs |title=Російська армія скинула керовану авіабомбу на житловий квартал Нової Каховки |date=2023-09-15 |last=Суспільне Херсон |access-date=2026-04-17 |via=YouTube}}

==History==

==History==