The Water Supply Crisis in the Donbas
According to former Deputy Minister of Ecology Mykhailo Khorev, repairing the Donbas water supply system while active combat continues is impossible. He stated that the water infrastructure in the occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast is destroyed, severely complicating any repair efforts. Khorev emphasized that the system, previously operated by the utility 'Voda Donbasu', does not simply need repairs but essentially requires a complete rebuild from scratch, as many old structures, including pipelines, have been non-functional for a long time.
Key Obstacles to Restoring the Water Supply
Khorev outlined three primary factors preventing the restoration of water services in the region:
- Cessation of Hostilities: 'Theoretically, anything can be restored. But first, the fighting must stop. As long as combat operations continue, fully restoring this system is unrealistic,' he noted.
- Destroyed Infrastructure: 'All the infrastructure is in a ruined state. In areas where active fighting took place, the entire infrastructure has been destroyed,' the former deputy minister stressed.
- Lack of Regulating Reservoirs: 'The second problem is the absence of regulating reservoirs, meaning water storage facilities that manage the flow,' Khorev pointed out.
He also highlighted the chronically low water levels in the Siverskyi Donets river basin, a critical regional water source. 'This leads to insufficient water in the rivers and in the groundwater itself,' he added. The destruction of this infrastructure is a direct consequence of the ongoing war, which has devastated the region's basic utilities.
A critical water shortage is now evident in occupied cities like Donetsk, Makiivka, and Mariupol. Russian forces have depleted the reserves of regional reservoirs, and mines in these areas have ceased operations, further restricting residents' access to water. Under these dire conditions, restoring the water supply has become an exceptionally difficult task.
The water crisis in the Donbas underscores the severe consequences of the conflict, which has led to massive infrastructure destruction. With the war ongoing, restoring the water system appears highly unlikely, as it requires not only significant financial investment but also regional stability. The lack of water poses a serious threat to the life and health of residents in these territories, and a solution to this humanitarian problem will only be possible under conditions of peace.