Water and Conflict: Updates from the Russia-Ukraine War

Feb 28, 2023 | Angus Soderberg
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The first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is also a reminder of the long-term challenges faced by that embattled country, including one of the most important resources for human survival: water.

Yet even prior to open conflicts with Russia, major pipelines in the country— including one supporting 3.7 million people—have been in a state of disrepair since Ukraine’s declaration of independence more than three decades ago. Indeed, experts at the event pointed out that water crises have plagued Ukraine since its independence in 1991. 

Weinthal added that the “unprecedented” targeting of energy facilities in Ukraine is not just limited to conventional power plants. “We are seeing attacks on nuclear facilities,” she said, adding that there have been “at least 34 attacks” on nuclear facilities that provide power for the country. Water’s vital role in generating nuclear energy comes both in its usage by pressurized water reactors and in boiling water reactors. 

These targeted attacks on water and energy infrastructure have larger ripple effects.

The UN Water Conference that will be held in New York in March 2023 offers another opportunity to grapple with these issues, and Risi asked the panelists about their hopes for that meeting—both in light of the challenges facing Ukraine and in the larger arc of the global water and conflict nexus.