DISINFO: Crimea accuses Ukraine of water shortages, plans suits in international courts
SUMMARY
Ukraine is to blame for water shortages in Crimea. The losses are estimated between 10 trillion to 20 trillion roubles (€115 billion to €230 billion). Crimea will first sue Ukraine in Russian courts and then file suits abroad.
RESPONSE
This is a recurrent disinformation narrative from pro-Russian media, claiming Crimea’s right on water supplies from Ukraine. In reality, international law stipulates that occupational authorities are responsible for the well-being of the population, including water supplies, electricity, safety etc.
Before Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Ukrainian peninsula had been receiving 85 per cent of its freshwater through a canal from the mainland. Immediately after the annexation, water supplies were cut off. The peninsula has been suffering from drought and the population has been facing problems with drinking water ever since. In some areas, running water is only supplied for three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening.
After the annexation, local politicians were claiming that Crimea could do without water from Ukraine. However, their rhetoric has changed by now and they say that Ukraine is committing what they call ecocide in the peninsula. Some of them go as far as to say that Ukraine’s cutting off water supplies is tantamount to genocide.
Crimea is an internationally recognised part of Ukraine. The so-called referendum that was organised hastily and at gunpoint of Russian soldiers and barring impartial observers from entering the peninsula can hardly be called "reunification in strict accordance with all the norms of international law".
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
Read more disinformation cases about the illegal annexation of Crimea.