Key facts
- Civilians in occupied Ukraine face failing water and electricity systems.
- Shortages of qualified doctors are acute in rural areas of occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
- Russian forces are preventing international humanitarian organizations from accessing occupied territories.
- The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023 has dried up the North Crimean Canal.
Civilians across all Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine are facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, marked by failing water and electricity systems, shortages of medical personnel, and deteriorating municipal services. These issues are compounded by wartime destruction, proximity to front lines, and the inability of Russian occupation authorities to maintain basic infrastructure.
In Kherson Oblast, settlements along the Dnipro River, including Oleshky and Hola Prystan, are exposed to constant warfare and lack safe evacuation routes. Russian forces are reportedly preventing international aid organizations from accessing these areas. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023 has severely impacted water supplies, drying up the North Crimean Canal, with restoration efforts deemed impossible without rebuilding from scratch.
Occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast is grappling with unstable electricity supply, partly due to Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure aimed at disrupting Russian military operations. Some areas experience prolonged outages, with electricity available for only a few hours a week. Voltage fluctuations have damaged household appliances, and residents report critical shortages of electricity and water. Gas supply cuts have also been implemented, citing the need to protect infrastructure from drone attacks.
The crisis is further exacerbated by a severe shortage of doctors, particularly in rural areas. Many Ukrainian medical professionals have left, and attempts to recruit doctors from Russia have been insufficient.