In the first chapter “Historiography, sources and methodology of the research”, it has been ascertained that, in comparison with other modern studies, the present researches considerably improved, extended and structured the historiography pertaining to historical Dnieper studies by Ukrainian scientists. It has been complemented additionally with a series of publications by Ukrainian historians in exile, Western and Russian scientists, as well as researchers from other fields of knowledge (engineers, economists, natural scientists etc.).
In the second chapter “Hydropower development of the Ukrainian Dnieper: origins and implementation,” it has been established that the Dnieper hydropower program was implemented in the circumstances of hard competition for the Dnieper water between the transportation and the power industries. As of the late 19th century, hydraulic engineering works on this body of water were supervised by the Ministry of Communications and focused almost entirely on improving the navigable channel, with minimal alienation of land. In 1921, such activities were transferred into the responsibility of hydraulic engineering organizations where they became more complex in nature. The invention of relatively more profitable hydropower allowed engineers to design large reservoirs, best suited for this specific purpose. At the same time, the mandatory requirement was to consider interests and ensure significant increase in potential for most of other consumers and users of the river’s water resources.
In the third chapter “Economic and ecological transformations of the Dnieper Region”, it has been recognized that water reservoirs allowed to relieve the growing pressure of industrialization on the regional society and ecosystem, while water-dependent industries and other less water-consuming branches of economy developed conjointly, in spite of competing with each other. As of the late 19th century – early 20th century, the regularly shifting river bed, manmade changes in bank configuration, lack of water, floods and droughts affected economy and ecology seriously almost every year. Overall, the water economy system of the Dnieper in its natural condition was able to satisfy the main needs of the population, though it was already at the peak of its capacity. Plans for extensive industrialization suggested a considerable increase in water consumption and therefore more pressure on the river’s ecosystem. Creation of water reservoirs has significantly improved Dnieper’s water-supplying capacity and helped to reduce the harmful effects of industry on the environment. Water-dependent industries are constantly competing for the Dnieper water with each other, and for funding – with less water-intensive alternatives. However, they haven’t managed to oust each other by now, and therefore they have to develop conjointly, with the principle of optimal combined effect in mind, which suggests taking into account everyone’s needs with minimal total losses.
In the fourth chapter “Socio-cultural transformation of the Dnieper Region”, it has been ascertained that the socio-cultural component of the hydropower program was formed in compliance with the social and governmental trends and practices of the time. In the first half of the 20th century, when the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station was under construction, people from the villages within the basin of the water reservoir were resettled to farmsteads in accordance with the nationwide policy of “bringing peasants closer to their land.” Also, the overpopulation of agricultural lands made smallholder farmers move elsewhere in search of free land (farmers’ migration) on their own initiative, or settle in cities, rather reluctantly, where they had to change their sector of employment (urbanization). On the contrary, in the second half of the 20th century areas surrounding hydropower construction sitessaw liquidation of farmsteads, while villages were united and amalgamated in compliance with the general Soviet policy of “bringing villages closer to cities”. During this period, rates of urbanization caused by purposeful migration of rural population to cities became impressive. In areas to be flooded by water reservoirs, only stone buildings were destroyed, while wooden structures were moved to new locations. Atheist policies of the Soviet state and changes in architectural fashion caused much more damage to traditional folk architecture than the flooding and construction of water reservoirs.
