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When heavy rains in Russian-occupied Crimea caused flooding last month, thousands of people had to evacuate. But there is also a silver lining: dry water tanks have been filled, writes the Financial Times.
This alleviated the crisis caused by the drought and Ukraine’s decision to block a Soviet-era canal that had previously supplied up to 85 percent. water consumption in the peninsula.
Moscow’s efforts to provide 2.4 million. The fresh water of the Crimean population has become another point of tension. The latter emerged seven years ago after Russian forces occupied the peninsula.
At the same time, the conflict between Kiev forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine has already claimed more than 14,000 lives. it lives.
Russia has accused Ukraine of “genocide” for building a concrete dam in the northern Crimean canal. Before that, the dam, which was built in 2014, consisted of sandbags and earth.
Kiev fears that Moscow is preparing for a military invasion to ensure the flow of water from the nearby Dnieper River.
Water shortages, coupled with rising food prices and international isolation from Western sanctions, threaten President Vladimir Putin’s promise that life in Crimea will be better under Russian control.
„Scanpix“ / ITAR-TASS nuotr./Sausra Kryme
Although opinion polls by state-owned companies show that Putin is still more popular in Crimea than in other parts of Russia, patriotic sentiment waned after 2014, when the annexation took place.
“Water reserves and fields are drying up,” said Viktor, a 47-year-old Crimean who regularly travels to Ukraine for work. – Every year worse and worse. We didn’t have this problem before annexation. “
3.7 billion tons of water are transported to Crimea. a bridge that cost dollars that arose after the occupation of the territory and connected Crimea with mainland Russia. The locals transport the water delivered to the house in plastic bottles.
In popular Black Sea resorts, during major droughts, tap water can only flow for a few hours a day and the canal fills with cured grass. Crimea has become extremely difficult to grow water-intensive crops.
“The canal symbolizes the stupidity of the Kremlin in occupying Crimea. They did not calculate the consequences. Why did they not think about the water?” Said Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister in charge of reintegration policy in the occupied territories.
„Scanpix“ / ITAR-TASS nuotr./Sausra Kryme
Russian prosecutors indicted Ukraine last week at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for “appalling violations” over water. The governor of Crimea plans to file a separate complaint and demand 1.5 trillion. compensation in rubles.
For his part, Reznikov assures that, according to the Geneva Convention, Russia, as the occupying power, is responsible for guaranteeing water and other essential needs of the population.
Ukraine has also filed a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against Russia for losses it suffered as a result of the illegal confiscation of its land.
Colonel Kyrylo Budanov, commander of Ukraine’s military intelligence unit, said Russia was seeking to occupy the canal and adjacent territory to connect Crimea with the occupied territories. Russian forces could attack New Kakhovka, a city on the Dnieper River where the canal begins.
Some Crimean Tatars, an ethnic minority largely opposed to the Russian occupation, are setting up camp near the dam to ensure that water supplies are not restored.
“It will be a full-scale war,” a 55-year-old activist who spoke on behalf of Alibaba told the Financial Times. He and other activists say they are ready to take up arms to defend the canal blockade. – There will be nowhere to hide in these fields. Let them try. “
Ukrainian Minister O. Reznikov assures that he is determined to provide humanitarian aid to Crimea, including drinking water, as is already being done in areas controlled by separatists. However, Ukraine has not yet received such a request.
“It is very difficult for Russia to admit that they are weak. That would mean admitting that they made the wrong decision,” he said.
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