The water crisis in Crimea: a sign of the future?

 

This article is dedicated to the World Water Day (22/03/2021)

The stationed Russian troops in Crimea from 2014 have raised issues, one of them concerns the water shortages. The decision of the Ukrainian government to pause the water flow towards Crimea, led to a crisis in a very competitive environment.

The North Crimean (Water) Canal

During the 1950s, the Soviet state designed a canal which could transport water from the river Dnieper to the Crimean peninsula with the terminal station the city of Kerch. It was a complicated structure, including a main canal, enough pipelines and deposits for water storage. The aim was the provision of water for the population and its activities in the peninsula due to the short quantities of it. In 1975, after some years of construction, this structure, named The North Crimean Canal, was ready for use. It belonged to the Soviet Union and, after its dissolution in 1991, to the independent Ukrainian government. 

The Russian invasion and the water crisis

In March 2014, Putin's government commanded the Russian Armed Forces to invade Crimea in order to prevent the severance of Russia from Europe via Ukraine. The invasion was successful. The Russian armed men prevailed in the battles and on March, a referendum was held in the peninsula with the question of autonomy inside the Russian Federation. The result was in favor of the union with "mother- Russia". This caused the violent reaction of the Ukrainian authorities. The battles continued, while the flow of water via the above mentioned canal was paused. This happened because Dnieper's water cross mainland Ukraine and the unit of water flow's circulation is on Ukrainian soil. The main target was to force the Crimean population because of the lack of water to ask Russia for leaving the region and to make difficult the life of the Russian units depriving this vital element for life. As a consequence, the Crimean population faced the possibility of running out of water, although there were serious shortages. 

For 7 years the Crimean population had no serious problems. However, in the beginning of 2021, the lack of water is one of the top priorities for the autonomous Crimean Authority and Russia, along with the threat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The water crisis is ongoing, causing an internal migration from the countryside to the urban centers, where the offer of water is larger. The main reasons for this development are the long-term presence of Russian soldiers who consume remarkable quantities of water, the drier climate (especially from 2018 onwards), the increased agricultural activities and the bigger number of residents, adding the Russian migrants who arrived after 2014. 

The Russian response

As it is natural, Moscow waited for this reaction. Shortly after the union, money was spent for building infrastructure and a bridge uniting the two banks of the Kerch Strait started to be built, to the transport of goods be undisturbed. 

When the situation worsened, the Russian response was immediate. Firstly, infrastructure for the storage of the water started to be constructed, targeting the supply of the soldiers and the residents. Furthermore, funds were channeled for the construction of desalination units. Also, the underground water was used about to maintain the agricultural production. In addition, a regulation on the usage of water was imposed, providing water for a specific time per day. Another movement regards the legal solution: the Russian authorities, with the support of local businesses appealed to an arbitral tribunal against the Ukrainian government for the pause of the water flow. At the same time, Russia blamed on Ukraine for this development at the UN and other international organizations.

Whats' s next?: the geopolitics of the water

It is evident, that the decision of Ukraine to stop the channel of water towards Crimea was one of great importance. As well as the Russian response, it can be said that it is early and decisive. However, it can be problematic. The living conditions of the Crimean population become more difficult than in the past and some of the solutions, for example the use of underground water, can lead to aridity in the long term. The completion of the ambitious, but effective program of building infrastructure maybe is the best solution, especially now where the new US President holds a tough stance against Russia and possibly will support Kiev to its decision concerning the water affair.   

Can we talk about a humanitarian crisis in Crimea? The answer is no, yet. Though, if the solution is going to prove in vain, that time we will have a humanitarian crisis and a change in the political scene. As the Ukrainian conflict is not resolved, the living conditions in Crimea will get worse. This affair reminds us that who control vital resources, are very strong. Moreover, that affair is similar to the tense relations between Egypt and Ethiopia as a result of the Ethiopian Dam in the Nile river. The question still remains: we are in front of a new world who will fight for water, especially the moment when the global temperature increases?