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A week ago, the Novakkavka Dam in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine was destroyed. The dam holds back a reservoir so big that locals call it the Kokovka Sea. When it collapsed, water surged downstream, causing catastrophic damage and forcing thousands to evacuate. So what do we know about the ecological damage done so far? And what role is damage to the environment playing in the story of this conflict?

Madeleine Finlay speaks to Doug Weir from the Conflict and Environment Observatory about why the collapse of the Kakhovka dam is likely to be so damaging for biodiversity, access to clean water and levels of pollution. He explains why the environment has become such a central part of the narrative and considers what this increased focus could mean for Ukraine’s eventual recovery. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod