The water supply system in occupied Donbas is in a very poor, pre-default state, according to Andriy Nikitin, vice president of the 'Ukrvodokanalgeologiya' association. He claims that in the long term, it is impossible to avoid complete collapse. The main reason for the problems is the war: Russian troops constantly shell pumping stations and pipelines, destroying the water supply system.
Nikitin emphasizes that the canals and reservoirs that fed the system are severely damaged, and water from Russia is not arriving in sufficient quantities. Investment in the Ukrainian water supply system in Donbas stopped back in Soviet times, and with the onset of occupation, it completely halted.
‘This is enough only partially, and I predict further degradation up to complete collapse. This winter will be telling: if they can somewhat get through the heating season, the collapse will be delayed. But in the long term, there is no chance,’ Nikitin said.
In the occupied cities of Donbas, people receive water only a few hours a day or even once a week. Water supply issues threaten epidemics and a humanitarian disaster. The unstable state of infrastructure has caused a lack of water and unsanitary conditions in the region.
As a result of the war in eastern Ukraine, the water supply system in the occupied territories is on the brink of complete collapse, which threatens a humanitarian crisis and epidemics due to serious water supply problems.