DISINFO: Ukraine commits one more crime by not providing water to Crimea
SUMMARY
Ukraine is committing one more crime by depriving Crimean residents of the right to drinking water. There is a need for diplomatic negotiations to restore the water supply of Crimea in order to stop this crime being committed.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine and Crimea. Crimea and Sevastopol were illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Under international law, Russia has the duty to provide supplies in those territories. The North Crimean Canal is the only structure through which the Crimea received water from the Dnipro River. After Russia’s illegal annexation of the peninsula, the Ukrainian leadership stated that the main condition for the renewal of the agreements on the water supply to the Crimea is the re-institution of legitimate authorities on the peninsula, which are absent following the annexation of Crimea. That is why Ukraine decided to close the locks of the North Crimean Canal and stated that it would resume water supply to the peninsula only after the complete de-occupation of Crimea. Crimea was illegally annexed by Moscow based on an illegitimate referendum. On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it stated 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 9 December 2019, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.