Замість Каховського водосховища! Спогади очевидця

What Have We Lost and What Can We Regain? The Great Meadow (Velykyi Luh) lives on in the memories of the residents of the village of Malokaterynivka, which once overlooked this legendary landscape. These recollections preserve how the Great Meadow once looked and what it meant to Ukrainians. Once, this land was rich with fishing grounds, fertile gardens, and endless wetlands. A lacework of rivers and lakes ran like thousands of veins through relict forests and lush meadows. Local people recall life before the flooding: working the land, the unique natural environment, and the abundance of fish, game, and birds. How did life change after the creation of the Kakhovka Reservoir? What traditions, livelihoods, and crafts once flourished here? First-hand testimonies reveal what was lost forever beneath the waters. Now, nearly two years after the reservoir’s destruction by Russian occupiers, we are witnessing the rebirth of natural landscapes. Yet these forests and meadows are still young and fragile, and it is vital to protect and study them. Valentyna Hrushko, a resident of Malokaterynivka in the Zaporizhzhia region, recalls the Great Meadow, which locals simply called the Wetlands (“Plavni”). Her memories allow us to hear first-hand what this legendary land was like. Sadly, even among native residents, the original name “Great Meadow” is now rarely spoken. Testimonies like Valentyna’s shed light on: Rich wildlife and birdlife. The wetlands teemed with countless bird species and an abundance of fish. Traditional livelihoods. Most people raised livestock, as grass grew extremely quickly in the wetlands. Fishing. The waters of the Great Meadow held a wealth of fish: huge carp, plentiful tench, and even the rare weather loach (v’yun). Valentyna vividly described how the loach was caught and eaten, and recalled preparing the traditional dish fish borshch with tench! Seasonal flooding. Each spring the wetlands were heavily inundated, the water rising several meters — a process already strongly influenced by the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station (DniproHES). After the flooding of the Great Meadow and the creation of the Kakhovka Reservoir, fish diversity and populations began to collapse. The feeding base for fish quickly disappeared, devastating the region’s ecosystem. According to eyewitnesses and local elders, if the Wetlands are restored, it will bring immense benefits both to nature and to people. Support our channel: MONO – https://send.monobank.ua/jar/4yZGUvS4Qd BUYMEACOFFEE – https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RID_UA Watch, comment, and subscribe to our channel! More interviews and field recordings are coming soon. Thank you for your attention to these vital topics that connect us with our heritage.