As the cold weather sets in, there are increasingly large-scale emergencies in heating supply systems and water pipelines in Russia. This information is spread by 'Glavkom' citing the Centre for Counteracting Disinformation.
The Irkutsk region has been left without heating due to an accident at the CHPP, Novosibirsk had to face heating problems due to a heating pipeline break, Tyumen has experienced emergencies in heating networks, and Rostov region and Stavropol Krai have seen mass water interruptions.
Degradation of utilities networks in Russia
According to data from the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation, over 42% of utilities networks in Russia need urgent replacement. The authorities officially acknowledge that the networks are outdated, but repair works are progressing too slowly.
'Putin is pouring billions into bombing Ukraine, while chronic underfunding is gradually destroying infrastructure in the rear of Russia. And as long as the war continues, the scale of communal emergencies will only increase,' emphasizes the Centre for Counteracting Disinformation.
The main reason for the degradation of housing and communal services systems in Russia is attributed to the war against Ukraine, which is believed to consume all financial resources. Regional budgets are being cut all over the country, leading to a reduction in federal subsidies and an increase in military expenses.
Financial difficulties in Russia
Russian companies have started to drastically cut expenses and halt investment projects due to financial instability. According to the Federal State Statistics Service, the Russian economy has entered a protracted recession, and its main problems have become counterparty insolvencies, reduced demand, and a lack of working capital.
The last significant decline in investments in Russia occurred in 2020 when they decreased by 5%. In the third quarter of 2025, the decline in investments amounted to 3.1% - the first such decline in the last five years.
In Russia, since the start of the cold season, large-scale emergencies in heating supply and water supply systems have arisen due to the degradation of utilities networks. According to data from the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation, more than 42% of utilities networks need urgent replacement, but repair works are being carried out very slowly. Lack of funding and the allocation of resources for military purposes are the main reasons for this state of affairs.