Luhansk Oblast Governor Hennadiy Moskal has completely cut off the water supply to Russian-occupied territories in retaliation for shelling by the Kremlin-separatist forces.
The order to shut off the water was signed on June 5, according to the website of the regional administration. Separatist leaders in Luhansk said on June 3 that the water supply had already stopped flowing.
Moskal explained the move as a necessary response to frequent shelling of Ukrainian-controlled territory, which he said had deprived residents in at least eight villages of electricity.
“The electricity line on occupied territory has been damaged (by shelling), but the militants will not allow technicians in to fix it. Emergency workers have repeatedly tried to get to the scene where the damage is – with no luck,” Moskal said in the online statement.
The damage has prevented the region’s main water supply system from functioning, he said.
“For the last two weeks, the terrorists shelling our villages have damaged the water supply system for occupied territory in three separate areas. I warned them that the water would return only when the imposters of (occupied) Luhansk use their own efforts and their own means to fix the damage; I personally guaranteed access and security for the emergency workers. But instead of allowing the water line to be repaired, the rebels shut off electricity to non-occupied territory. They’ve started a utilities war against us, and I am left with no other choice but to completely shut off water to occupied territories. … The water supply will be restored only after Stanitse gets electricity back with a guarantee of its stable supply,” he wrote.
Neither Moskal nor his spokesman were available to comment further on the matter. The governor has expressed growing frustration with separatists in occupied Luhansk in recent days, earlier threatening to shut down the last remaining civilian checkpoint in the area.
Human rights activists have repeatedly warned of a growing humanitarian disaster in both the occupied and Ukrainian-controlled parts of the region, as skirmishes continue between
Ukrainian forces and separatists.
“All aspects of people’s lives are being negatively affected, and the situation is increasingly untenable for the local inhabitants, especially in areas controlled by the armed groups. Many have been trapped in conflict zones, forced to shelter in basements, with hardly any drinking water, food, heating, electricity or basic medical supplies,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said in a statement in early March.
The United Nations Refugee Agency has warned that many civilians remain trapped in Luhansk due to a lack of transport and insecurity along the exit routes. The frequent shelling in the area has deprived residents not only of basic necessities like water and electricity, but also much needed humanitarian aid, according to the agency.
