Donetsk Water Crisis: A City Living on a Tapped Hour
Russian-occupied Donetsk has been plagued by an acute drinking-water shortage for years, a crisis intensified by war and chronic mismanagement. In practice, residents report that tap water comes on only every third day, for a narrow window, and often not even then. The situation in the region, where only a portion remains under Ukrainian control, has produced a humanitarian emergency in which everyday tasks—washing, cooking, and especially sanitation—are increasingly precarious.
Causes: Decades of neglect meet modern conflict
Decaying infrastructure and deliberate damage
The water system in Donetsk has suffered from underfunded maintenance for more than a decade. Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the broader Donbas conflict, pipelines have been bombed or degraded, and the newer faults since the 2022 invasion have exacerbated a fragile network. The result is a supply that is fragile, unreliable and increasingly dangerous to use when it does arrive.
Slow recovery that never fully arrives
Even with occasional repairs, the newly laid water main in Donetsk has failed to resolve the broader crisis. Residents report that when water does flow, the pressure barely reaches upper floors, forcing many to lower containers into basements to collect water and haul it upstairs themselves. In short, aging infrastructure plus ongoing conflict has left the system chronically overwhelmed.
Daily life under rationed water
Ration schedules and health risks
People describe a rigid schedule: water available for a few hours in the late afternoon to evening, but delivery is irregular and often incomplete. Pressure is so low that most households can only fill containers up to the fourth floor of tall buildings. Residents have resorted to storing water in basements, only to carry it up flights of stairs later, a physically demanding task that misses many households, especially the elderly and single occupants.
Impact on hospitals, schools and homes
Water shortages have forced hospitals, kindergartens and schools to reduce services or shut toilets entirely. Staff members are compelled to fetch water in buckets, allowing facilities to function at a minimal level while attempting to maintain basic hygiene and sanitation.
Contrasting color of water and supply gaps
There are reports of rusty or even blue-tinged water at times, a consequence of low pressure pulling detergents back into the lines. The unpredictability of supply has raised concerns about safety and quality, even as families depend on whatever water is available for drinking and cooking.
Human cost and humanitarian concerns
People speak of a looming danger
Residents describe moments when the shortage feels existential. A veteran Donetsk resident told Meduza, in anonymized terms, that “people will kill for water.” The toll is felt most acutely by the elderly and those living alone, who struggle to carry heavy containers across building floors in search of water.
Price hikes and aid challenges
Even where bottled water is available, prices have surged, and tankers often fail to meet demand. The scarcity has spawned informal networks and makeshift solutions, but it is clear that the basic human need for water remains unmet for many families.
Official responses and the road ahead
In public discourse, Moscow and its allies emphasize control over parts of the Donetsk region, while a quarter of the area remains under Ukrainian administration. A new water main was touted as a fix, but residents report it has not resolved the core problem. In discussions between Vladimir Putin and Denis Puschilin, the Donetsk region’s Russian-backed leader, the president acknowledged that the new pipeline had not “solved all tasks,” offering no clear plan for how to end the crisis.
Conclusion: A humanitarian crisis that demands attention
The Donetsk water crisis underscores how war and mismanagement can compound a simple, essential need into a daily struggle for survival. As the region waits for reliable water delivery, residents continue to ration, improvise, and hope for a resolution that respects human dignity and health—not merely strategic objectives.
