The Russian newspaper "Vzglyad" revealed that Moscow is preparing to establish a water channel linking some cities of the Donbas region (eastern Ukraine) to the Don River.
The newspaper reported that the canal would break the water blockade imposed by Ukraine on the territory, which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
The head of the Donetsk region, Denis Bushlin, announced last Thursday the start of the first phase of the construction of a new water canal from the Don River to supply the residents of the province with water by next May, according to the Vzglyad report.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khosnolinin made a similar statement confirming that Russia has developed plans to supply Donetsk with water, and he had said in early April that the construction of the water canal could take about 5 months, and stressed that the issue of supplying the residents of the province with water is a priority for Moscow.
According to the report of the Russian newspaper, the Donetsk region and its neighboring areas have been living under a water blockade for about a year after the Ukrainian authorities took a decision to stop the operation of the pumping station located near the city of Mayorska, which was an important source of water supply to the province, after another major source - the Seversky Donets Donbass channel - stopped working and did not repair devices in other areas due to the war.
Residents of Donetsk, the provincial capital, and dozens of other cities and villages in the province are suffering from severe water shortages after their main water facilities were bombed. Currently, locals have access to water once every 3 days for only two hours.
The new canal, which will be completed in record time, is estimated to be 194 kilometers long and will have a capacity of 288,8 cubic meters per day, and will include 110 pumping stations, including a floating power station with a capacity of 10 kilowatts, water tanks with a capacity of 14,49 cubic meters, <> hydraulic tanks, as well as <> pumps, Fazglyad said.
The newspaper quoted the deputy of the People's Assembly in Donetsk, Vladislav Berdyshevsky, as saying that the province suffers from severe water shortages, and that the authorities have allocated a team to find solutions to this problem to repair water networks and heating systems.
It also quoted a resident of the region, Valentina Chaika, as saying that residents of Donetsk, Makivka, Yasinovataya and Gorlovka receive messages with a year-long water supply schedule, "where Donetsk and Makivka receive water every 3 days for only a few hours, while the Yasinovathaya and Gorlovka regions receive water once every two days, from seven to nine in the morning."
"For these reasons, Donetsk residents have started using various tools to help deal with the problem and store water, including the use of washing facilities and irrigation cans. In addition, about 6 treatment and filtration plants set up by the Ministry of Emergency Situations operate in the city. More than 100 vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Emergency Situations are tasked with delivering potable and industrial water to public squares."