Residents in Russian-Occupied Donetsk Melt Snow for Drinking Water Amid Deepening Crisis

Freezing temperatures have sharply worsened an already critical water-supply crisis in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk region, leaving entire neighborhoods without access to drinking water, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation on January 21.

The agency said many settlements had no water from taps at all, while barrels used for water deliveries froze or ran empty, and it added that the situation was compounded by emergency power outages and heating problems.

“The city infrastructure, which had been working ‘on emergencies’ for years, simply stopped functioning in winter conditions,” the agency said, blaming years without full-scale modernization of water mains or other utility systems under Russian occupation.

Ukrainian outlet Donbas Realities reported that residents in occupied Donetsk and nearby cities have increasingly depended on water delivered by tankers or dispensed from vending machines, with some people melting snow or heating barrels when supplies fail in freezing weather. 

Water shortages in the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk region have persisted since at least 2022, and Russian-installed authorities in July 2025 announced tighter rationing, switching Donetsk and Makiivka to water supplies once every three days and other towns to once every two days.

Earlier, it was reported that Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine’s Donetsk region are facing an acute water shortage after Kyiv cut off supplies through the Siverskyi Donets‑Donbas canal, prompting rationing and forcing residents to queue for water tankers as authorities consider costly desalination solutions to address the lack of running water in occupied towns.

Support our frontline reporters

We report from the front lines to show the reality of war. Your support helps us stay there and tell the stories that matter.

DONATE NOW