Water reserves are almost exhausted in occupied Crimea

The occupied Crimea is facing water shortages. The worst situation is in Alushta, where the reserves are only enough for a few months.

This was reported by Suspilne. Crimea.

The occupation authorities of Crimea stated that the available water reserves in the peninsula's reservoirs should last for about 340 days, but in a number of regions the situation is much worse. In particular, in Alushta, according to the estimates of the Russian-controlled structures, there are only about 132 days of water reserves left.

The occupation committee for water management and land reclamation noted that the total volume of filling all Crimean reservoirs is approximately 144 million cubic meters. The lowest rates are recorded in the reservoirs of eastern Crimea, which supply Kerch, Feodosia, Sudak and settlements of the Kerch district, as well as in the Izobilne reservoir, from which Alushta receives water.

The "committee" claims that under current conditions, these reserves are sufficient to supply water to the population and economic facilities of the peninsula for an average of almost a year, without taking into account future water inflows. However, for Alushta, this period, according to their calculations, is limited to about four months.

Amid low water levels in the Izobilne Reservoir, a water supply schedule was introduced in occupied Alushta on December 8. The Center of National Resistance notes that such restrictions only worsen the condition of water pipelines and lead to new accidents.

Expert of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Yevhen Khlobystov explained that the drying up of the Izobilne reservoir is systemic. According to him, the problem is related to climate change, increased water consumption, and the lack of alternative water sources.

In addition, the expert drew attention to the uneven distribution of water resources on the peninsula: while Sevastopol and Yalta have virtually no shortage, Central and Northern Crimea continue to face regular water cut-offs. According to Khlobystov, Crimea is actually being divided into privileged areas, where the military and power elite are concentrated, and the rest of the territory, which is forced to live in conditions of constant water shortage.

Crimean agriculture is also on the brink due to the drought. The occupation authorities plan to receive almost 3 billion rubles in federal subsidies in 2026 to support viticulture, horticulture, and essential oil crops, but the effectiveness of these funds will largely depend on the availability of water on the peninsula.

Анна Бальчінос