![]() Within the first three months of the conflict, it became clear that this conflict and its impact on freshwater resources and water infrastructure would impact both the livelihoods of local civilians and the global food supply 14, reflecting the importance of water resources for the agriculture of the region 15. The majority of this water infrastructure is located in the eastern and southern parts of the country, areas of intense agricultural production and major industrial activities such as metallurgy, coal mining and chemical production. The extensive and critical water infrastructure of Ukraine includes large multi-purpose reservoirs, hydropower dams, cooling facilities for nuclear plants, water reservoirs used for industry and mining, and extensive water distribution canals and pipelines for irrigation and household purposes 13. Unlike previously reported conflicts within the territories of the Global South and emerging economies 5, the current armed conflict occurs in a region characterized by a heavily modified and industrialized water sector 6, 12. The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia (applying the agreed-upon definition of the International Committee of the Red Cross 8), which started on 24 February 2022, represents an exceptional case with regard to its impact on the environment 9, 10, 11 and particularly on water resources and water infrastructure. Geographically, the majority of studies have focused on the Middle East (in particular, Iraq, Syria and Israel), Africa and Asia. 5 identified only 48 peer-reviewed studies on water in conflict settings. ![]() For example, a systematic review by Schillinger et al. ![]() In addition to these, water resources are often threatened through collateral damage (for example, a pollution spill caused by military action).ĭespite its importance, there is a lack of academic research related to the multifaceted impacts of armed conflicts on the water sector. Over the past decade, the number of recorded conflicts has increased, particularly when water was used as a trigger and/or as a casualty of a conflict (Fig. At present, the database consists of more than 1,300 entries, covering three separate categories: (1) water as a ‘trigger’ (the control of or access to water leads to violence), (2) water as a ‘weapon’ (water is used as a weapon during a conflict) and (3) water as a ‘casualty’ (direct attack on water systems) of violence. Reported violence associated with freshwater resources and water infrastructure, from 2500 bc to the present, is tracked by the open-source database Water Conflict Chronology (Pacific Institute 7). This has led to increased attention to both the role of water as a driver of conflicts 4 and the impacts of armed conflicts on water and water systems 5, 6. At the same time, freshwater as a resource 2 and related water infrastructure 3 are among the most vulnerable sectors during armed conflicts. Accordingly, it plays a pivotal role in the Sustainable Development Goals by securing societal and environmental well-being 1. Water is a fundamental and irreplaceable resource for life on Earth. Continuation of the conflict will have multiple negative sustainability implications not only in Ukraine but also on a global scale, hampering achievement of clean water and sanitation, conservation and sustainable use of water resources, and energy and food security. Our results showed that many water infrastructures such as dams at reservoirs, water supply and treatment systems and subsurface mines have been impacted or are at risk from military actions. We identified the nature of the impacts, the kind of pressures imposed on the water sector and the negative consequences for the availability and quality of freshwater resources for the civilian population. Here we analysed the multifaceted impacts of the military actions on freshwater resources and water infrastructure during the first three months of the conflict. The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia that began in late February 2022 has far-reaching environmental consequences, especially regarding water resources and management.
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