Rivers disappear and reservoirs dry up in the occupied territories: photo evidence.

In the occupied areas of southern Ukraine, a problem with freshwater has arisen. Reservoirs, rivers, and ponds in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and Crimea are rapidly drying up. Specifically, in Berdyansk, due to the low level of the Berda River, water supply is limited to twice a day. The water level in the Berdyansk reservoir, which is the main water source for the city, has begun to critically decrease and has reached 19 meters.

A similar situation is observed in the Starokrymske reservoir, which supplies Mariupol. There, they have started turning off the water for an hour and reducing the pressure in city networks. The Kalchyk River, which feeds Mariupol, is also seeing a decrease in water levels. Most of the ponds around Maria have begun to dry up.

Ecologists warn that this could seriously threaten the region's natural balance. Depletion of water resources leads to disruption of water balance and increased salinity in the Sea of Azov. This causes a rise in the jellyfish population, which negatively impacts fish stocks and the coastal zone's ecology.

Occupational administrations have announced work to clear rivers, but so far only 20 km on three rivers have been cleaned, while the total length of small rivers in the Zaporizhzhia region exceeds 2,400 km.

The situation became especially critical after the Kakhovka HPP explosion. The reservoir, which was a source of water for Berdyansk, has now turned into a forest. Crimea, which was left without access to water from the Dnipro after the occupation, is also experiencing all these problems.

The peninsula's rivers, particularly those that fed the Partizanske and Chornorichenske reservoirs, have practically dried up. The reserves of the Kerch reservoir have also decreased, while the Zahorske and Ayanske reservoirs are drying up.

Considering all these factors, the freshwater supply situation in the southern regions of Ukraine is becoming increasingly complex and critical. This could have serious consequences for both the local population and the environment.