Occupied Crimea turns into a desert: Russia occupiers increase production from underground sources

Name: Occupied Crimea turns into a desert: Russia occupiers increase production from underground sources
Uploaded: 2026-11-15T03:08:31.759Z
Duration: 4 min 24 s
Channel: Kanal13

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Russia's occupation policy is increasingly exacerbating the crisis in Crimea , as the peninsula is losing strategic freshwater resources. This was reported by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, in an attempt to compensate for the deficit, the occupiers are increasing extraction from underground sources, which is depleting aquifers, contributing to salinization, and creating a threat of desertification of Crimean lands.

It is reported that at the beginning of October 2026, the average filling level of the peninsula's reservoirs was approximately 45%. This was due to relatively heavy precipitation and snowmelt in the winter and spring. The largest increase in water reserves occurred in natural runoff reservoirs, which as of October 9 had accumulated 148.4 million cubic meters of water—more than double the amount for the same period last year. However, with the onset of the dry season, reserves have begun to decline again—natural replenishment of reservoirs no longer covers consumption.

Approximately 138,000 cubic meters of water enter natural runoff reservoirs daily, while total discharges reach 455,000 cubic meters. Of this volume, 81% is used for water supply, and the remaining 19% is lost due to evaporation and soil seepage. Thus, water is consumed more than three times faster than it is replenished.

According to the Main Directorate of Water Resources, the situation with the reservoirs, which rely on external sources for their filling, is even more complex. At the beginning of September 2026, their total reserves were approximately 35 million cubic meters, but by the beginning of October, they had already dropped to 31.6 million cubic meters. In other words, they lost approximately 10% of their water in just one month.

"A total of approximately 72,000 cubic meters are withdrawn daily from the reservoirs, of which approximately two-thirds is used for water supply, and a third evaporates or is absorbed into the soil. Water inflow into the reservoirs is virtually nonexistent. This is due to the low water levels of the replenishment sources, particularly the Belogorsk and Taigan reservoirs, as well as the overall seasonal decline in water levels," the intelligence agency reports.

A prime example is the Mezhgornoye Reservoir, which is only 0.2% full of its design capacity. It can no longer effectively serve as a water supply source.

Furthermore, even the presence of water in reservoirs does not always mean it can be used effectively. When water levels drop significantly, water intake is hampered by siltation, and the quality of water in the bottom layers deteriorates.

Thus, a temporary increase in reserves after precipitation did not solve the systemic problem. Crimea's water supply is increasingly dependent on unstable natural conditions and reserve sources, which are also depleted.

The situation was further exacerbated by the loss of the ability to fully utilize the North Crimean Canal. Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station dam by Russian forces in June 2023, the Kakhovka Reservoir disappeared, and the canal lost its main source of water.

Due to the lack of necessary hydrostatic pressure, siltation of water intakes and damage to hydraulic infrastructure, the canal's operational capabilities are significantly limited.

Its main section and the northern branch to Dzhankoy remain without water. The occupation administration uses the eastern branch to transport water from artesian wells toward Feodosia and Kerch.

However, intensive exploitation of underground resources threatens long-term environmental consequences, according to the Main Directorate of Water Resources. Excessive pumping lowers aquifer levels and creates conditions for saltwater infiltration into freshwater reservoirs.

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Russia's occupation policy is increasingly exacerbating the crisis in Crimea, as the peninsula is losing strategic freshwater resources. This was reported by the press service of the main intelligence directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. According to the Maine Intelligence Directorate, in an attempt to compensate for the deficit, the occupiers are increasing extraction from underground sources, which is depleting aquifers, contributing to salinization, and creating a threat of desertification of Crimean lands. It is reported that at the beginning of October 2026, the average filling level of the peninsula's reservoirs was approximately 45%. This was due to relatively heavy precipitation and snowmelt in the winter and spring. The largest increase in water reserves occurred in natural runoff reservoirs, which as of October 9 had accumulated 148.4 million cubic meters of water, more than double the amount for the same period last year. However, with the onset of the dry season, reserves have begun to decline again, Natural replenishment of reservoirs no longer covers consumption. Approximately 138,000 cubic meters of water enter natural runoff reservoirs daily, while total discharges reach 455,000 cubic meters. Of this volume, 81% is used for water supply, and the remaining 19% is lost due to evaporation and soil seepage. Thus, water is consumed more than three times faster than it is replenished. According to the Maine Directorate of Water Resources, the situation with the reservoirs, which rely on external sources for their filling, is even more complex. At the beginning of September 2026, their total reserves were approximately 35 million cubic meters, but by the beginning of October, they had already dropped to 31.6 million cubic meters. In other words, they lost approximately 10% of their water in just one month. A total of approximately 72,000 cubic meters are withdrawn daily from the reservoirs, of which approximately two-thirds is used for water supply, and a third evaporates or is absorbed into the soil. Water inflow into the reservoirs is virtually non-existent. This is due to the low water levels of the replenishment sources, particularly the Belogorsk and Tigon reservoirs, as well as the overall seasonal decline in water levels, the intelligence agency reports. A prime example is the Meche-Gournoy Reservoir, which is only 0.2% full of its design capacity. It can no longer effectively serve as a water supply source. Furthermore, even the presence of water in reservoirs does not always mean it can be used effectively. When water levels drop significantly, water intake is hampered by siltation, and the quality of water in the bottom layers deteriorates. Thus, a temporary increase in reserves after precipitation did not solve the systemic problem. Crimea's water supply is increasingly dependent on unstable natural conditions and reserve sources, which are also depleted. The situation was further exacerbated by the loss of the ability to fully utilize the North Crimean Canal. Following the destruction of the Kakovka hydroelectric power station dam by Russian forces in June 2023, The Kakovka reservoir disappeared, and the canal lost its main source of water. Due to the lack of necessary hydrostatic pressure, siltation of water intakes and damage to hydraulic infrastructure, the canal's operational capabilities are significantly limited. Its main section and the northern branch to Dzangkui remain without water. The Occupation Administration uses the eastern branch to transport water from artesian wells toward Feodosia and Kerch. However, intensive exploitation of underground resources threatens long-term environmental consequences, according to the Maine Directorate of Water Resources. Excessive pumping lowers aquifer levels and creates conditions for saltwater infiltration into freshwater reservoirs.