The eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, which Russia occupies, is struggling with water scarcity, according to a report by the British Ministry of Defence on Tuesday.

“On 28 April 2023, the head of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic announced that regional water supplies were dangerously low. Water scarcity has been a growing issue for Russian-occupied Donetsk since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine,’’ the ministry said in its daily report, citing leaders’ statements in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.

The Siverskyi Donets canal mainly supplies the region but is still largely in Ukrainian hands.

“Russian forces have likely been seeking to secure the canal to reduce water scarcity within Donetsk,’’ the ministry said.

However, London said the massive Russian artillery deployment in the battle for the city of Bakhmut has probably also damaged the canal running through the western town of Chassiv Yar and other regional water infrastructure.

The ministry added that Russia is undermining its efforts to remedy the self-inflicted water shortage.

“To compensate for its lack of success in capturing and retaining the canal, Russia is likely constructing a water pipeline to mitigate the water shortage in Donetsk City,’’ the ministry wrote. “However, this is highly unlikely to fully compensate for the occupied regions’ reduced access to water.’’

The British Ministry of Defence has published daily updates on the war since February 2022, when the Kremlin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow slams these as forming part of a disinformation campaign.

(dpa/NAN)