Andrew Raynus, Eloise Herdegen, and Karolina Hird



Data cut off: 5 pm ET, July 23

ISW's Russian Occupation Update tracks the activities that occur in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. The Occupation Updates examine Russian efforts to consolidate administrative control of annexed areas and forcibly integrate Ukrainian citizens into Russian sociocultural, economic, military, and governance systems. This product line replaces the section of the daily Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment covering activities in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

To read ISW’s assessment of how Russian activities in occupied areas of Ukraine are part of a coerced Russification and ethnic cleansing campaign, click here.

Click here to view our Russia-Ukraine interactive maps.

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The Russian-created water crisis is worsening and creating unsanitary living conditions in several parts of occupied Ukraine. Ukrainian Mariupol Mayoral Advisor Petro Andryushchenko stated on July 22 that the Khanzhenkivske Reservoir on the Krynka River, the main source of drinking water for occupied Donetsk Oblast, is empty and dry. The Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) administration noted on July 21 that the Don-Donbas Canal aqueduct, which provides occupied Donetsk Oblast with a third of its water supply, is reaching critically low water levels. Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda reported on July 21 that occupied Donetsk Oblast is on the brink of water collapse and is only getting 30 percent of its needed water supply. Komsomolskaya Pravda also reported on July 21 that an unspecified “accident” on the Berdovsky water pipeline caused a suspension of centralized water supply to occupied Berdyansk, Zaporizhia Oblast. The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported on July 21 that Russia destroyed the water system during its occupation of occupied Donetsk Oblast and never built a new one, meaning that many areas of occupied Donetsk Oblast only receive water for a few hours every three days. Damage to water infrastructure also appears to be impacting parts of occupied Zaporizhia Oblast. The lack of access to water is forcing residents of occupied Ukraine to resort to extreme and unsanitary means to adapt. Oleg Tsyarov, a former Ukrainian politician who lives in occupied Crimea due to his pro-Russian activities, stated on July 21 that it is common for people in occupied Donetsk Oblast to put a plastic bag in the toilet and throw it out after use because the water shortages have made it impossible to flush toilets. Unsanitary conditions may lead to a health crisis in occupied areas.

Key Takeaways:

• The Russian-created water crisis is worsening and creating unsanitary living conditions in several parts of occupied Ukraine. Occupation officials continue to posture themselves as effectively managing the crisis while continuing to blame Ukraine for causing water shortages.

• Russian occupation administrations continue to send Ukrainian children to Russian summer camps and educational programs in order to indoctrinate and russify them.

• Russia continues to co-opt the education system in occupied Ukraine.

Click Here to Read the Full Update

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