Ukraine has been hit by a powerful wave of bad weather: heavy downpours, gusty winds, and hail have caused serious damage to infrastructure and agriculture in several regions. The storm spared neither city streets, where streams of water turned into rivers, nor agricultural lands, where farmers lost part of their harvest and expensive irrigation systems.
Damage to farmers: washed away watermelons and destroyed infrastructure
Farmers in the Cherkasy region suffered particularly heavy losses. Farmer Mykhailo Palii from the village of Steblev told how the storm ruined their plans for the season. The heavy downpour not only flooded the fields but also washed away the prepared watermelon seedlings and completely destroyed elements of the drip irrigation system.
"There was heavy rain, part of our field was simply washed away. The film, the drip, the tape — everything was carried away, we had to redo everything," Palii shared.
The storm also struck the experimental planting: several dozen watermelon plants, which were planned to be scaled up, were destroyed by the water flows. The farmer's wife, Lyudmyla Palii, noted that the field was completely flooded. Fortunately, the family did not experience the catastrophe at night, but in the morning they were met with a sight that could have caused shock.
According to the farmer, the use of mulch film and drip irrigation remains critically important for preserving the harvest in modern weather conditions, however, in this case, these measures did not save them from flooding. The farmer estimated the losses from the storm at approximately 100,000 hryvnias, including costs for restoration work, purchasing new materials, and fuel.
On a plot of 2.5 hectares, 11,500 plants have already been planted, most of which are watermelons. Now the owners will have to restore the infrastructure and plant crops again to save the season.
Hail and gusts: consequences in other regions
The bad weather did not bypass other regions of Ukraine either. In the Ternopil region, heavy hail damaged vegetable gardens, and in the village of Shypintsy, damage to trees and power line breaks were recorded. Power outages were observed in a number of settlements.
Meteorologists warn of thunderstorms, heavy rains, and wind gusts up to 15–20 m/s in several regions, including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Odesa. A yellow danger level has been declared for these regions.
Recommendations for the population
During heavy precipitation and gusty winds, specialists recommend avoiding being outdoors, not staying under trees and near power lines. It is also worth taking weather warnings into account in advance when planning trips.
We remind you that the consequences of climate change are becoming more noticeable in everyday life. The summer period is characterized by sharp fluctuations — from prolonged heatwaves and droughts to intense downpours that cause damage to regions and can lead to the shallowing or disappearance of small rivers in certain areas.