Ukraine: nuclear plant's cooling ponds stable despite emptying reservoir

A view shows Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the bank of Kakhovka Reservoir near the town of Nikopol, after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine June 9, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's Kakhovka reservoir has lost nearly three-quarters of its volume of water since the Kakhovka dam was destroyed, but cooling ponds at the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are stable and high enough, the environment minister said on Monday.

Kyiv says Russia blew up the dam in southern Ukraine last week, leading to catastrophic flooding. Russia has blamed the destruction on Ukraine.