Donetsk Water Crisis Deepens as Residents Struggle to Stay Hydrated
In the war-torn Donetsk region, a basic human need has become a daily challenge: access to drinking water. Years of neglect, reinforced by ongoing fighting, have crippled the region’s water system. Many residents report that taps are turned on only every three days, and even then the supply often does not reach all households. The result is a precarious, improvised routine that leaves families guessing when the next trickle will arrive.
Roots of the crisis: neglect, conflict, and ruined infrastructure
The current water problem did not begin with the 2022 invasion. It stretches back to 2014 and the broader conflict over Crimea and Donetsk, during which maintenance of water pipelines deteriorated and much of the network was damaged or destroyed. The latest escalation has only worsened a situation that had already stretched resources thin. A new pipeline built to relieve demand has not resolved the underlying issues, and low pressure means even those who $are able to access water often receive water of questionable quality.
Damaged supply lines and unpredictable pressure
Residents describe a fragile system where pressure is so weak that water reaches only a portion of multi-story buildings. In Donetsk city, for example, many pipes fail to deliver water beyond the fourth floor, forcing people to set up makeshift storage in basements and haul water to upper floors by hand. When water is briefly available, it can be insufficient to fill tanks, leaving households with little to spare for cooking, cleaning, or personal hygiene.
Daily life under water scarcity
Local life has adapted around scarcity. Tank trucks periodically deliver water, but the volumes are erratic and often do not meet demand. People queue for hours to fill jerrycans and buckets, while some residents report that the water that does come out of taps is sometimes rusty or has an unusual color due to backflow from washing machines and detergents in the system caused by the low pressure.
Access remains a particular burden for the most vulnerable. Elderly residents and single-headed households struggle to carry water home, sometimes in excess of ten liters at a time. In many cases, neighbors and relatives help, but the shortage places a heavy burden on daily routines and health, especially for those who cannot move easily or who require regular hydration for medical reasons.
Impact on health, education and essential services
The lack of reliable water has forced hospitals, schools, and kindergartens to alter operations. Toilets have been shut down in some facilities, and staff must fetch water in containers to keep basic hygiene and sanitation. The short supply also disrupts cleaning and disinfection routines, increasing concerns about disease transmission and overall public health in crowded settings such as clinics and classrooms.
Political context and humanitarian concerns
President Vladimir Putin has asserted that Russia controls the Donetsk region, even as a quarter of the area remains under Ukrainian governance. In the occupied areas, the water crisis has underscored the fragility of utilities under conflict. A recently established water main failed to solve the problem, and bottled-water prices have surged, placing additional strain on households already stretched thin.
Residents have voiced their frustration in public appeals directed at Moscow, describing the situation as a humanitarian and ecological catastrophe. In a conversation between Putin and the Donetsk leadership, officials acknowledged the limits of the new infrastructure project, offering little reassurance on when the crisis might ease. The lack of a clear, credible plan to restore reliable water supplies continues to fuel fear and uncertainty among families trying to cope with daily life amid war.
What comes next?
Without durable maintenance, stable power, and secure pipelines, the Donetsk water crisis is unlikely to improve quickly. The combination of war damage, aging infrastructure, and political stalemate has created a humanitarian emergency that affects health, sanitation, and dignity. International aid and neutral humanitarian actors emphasize the urgent need for reliable water provision, improved distribution, and transparent communication about timelines. For now, residents press on, hoping for the day when taps run with predictable reliability rather than a cruel, sporadic rhythm.
