Occupied Donetsk on the Brink of Environmental Catastrophe

For a prolonged period, Donetsk has been grappling with a dire situation: water scarcity, uncollected waste, and the invasion of giant rats roaming fearlessly through its streets. Local online forums are inundated with reports of yet another “apocalypse” unfolding in various districts of the regional center.

Once known as the City of Roses, Donetsk has now descended into a state of chaos, with its residents, unable to evacuate for various reasons, left to fend for themselves. The streets have transformed into garbage dumps, and massive rats have made themselves at home. Despite assurances from the occupiers that "everything will be fixed" after the city's "official accession to Russia," it has become evident that these promises are nothing but empty rhetoric. The situation worsens with each passing day, as reported by OBOZ.UA.

Donetsk's Descent into Chaos

From what was once the pride of its citizens, boasting well-developed infrastructure, efficient utilities, and smooth roads, Donetsk now resembles a shadow of its former self. Local online platforms are filled with accounts of the ongoing “apocalypse” unfolding in one district after another.

The most pressing issue facing Donetsk residents is the lack of water. Many households in the city are entirely without it. In high-rise buildings, such as those in the Kyivsky and Kuybyshevsky districts, water is supplied on a schedule (once a day, in the evening) only to residents on lower floors.

"For the past two years, people have been fetching water with buckets and jerry cans. It's especially challenging for the elderly living in buildings without elevators, as they constantly struggle to haul water from the pickup point. But even the water from the tap, brown and foul-smelling, is terrifying to use. Frankly speaking, it's scary even to wash with it"
shared Donetsk resident Olga.

According to her, those living near the Kalmius River (residents of Kyivsky, Kalininsky, and Voroshilovsky districts) "go there with buckets as if going to work." However, Olga noted that her acquaintances have stopped doing so due to uncontrolled discharge of waste and sewage into the river, causing unbearable odors in the water.

Olga claims that the "authorities" feed the population daily promises that the water situation will soon be resolved. However, the reality is catastrophic. Donetsk residents are furious with the occupying "government," which has failed to provide adequate water supply to the city, citing examples from Mykolaiv.

The same holds true for heating. It's easier for those in private homes, as they can afford gas, coal, or firewood, albeit at high prices. Meanwhile, residents of high-rise buildings endure temperatures of only +10-14 degrees Celsius in their apartments.

"If you have any old fur coats left by your mothers or grandmothers, you're grateful you didn't get rid of them. We even sleep in fur coats! The cold is unbearable. Consequently, there's dampness, mold, and fungus that literally devour the walls"
shared Elena, a resident of the Kirovsky district.

Another problem is waste disposal. Makeshift landfills have literally taken over the city, visible everywhere except for the central streets.

According to local residents, "you can't see this disgrace only on the main streets".

But take a look at the courtyards, and there it is: mountains of garbage bags lying for weeks, if not months. They are rarely or never collected. Donetsk residents believe that the reason lies in the fact that equipment has been taken away for "frontline needs", along with drivers.

In the high-rises of the central Voroshilovsky district, notices were posted before New Year's, announcing the cessation of courtyard cleaning and the non-emptying of trash chutes due to "staff shortages." Municipal workers also warned residents that if "violations" occur, rats will infest the building. However, these large rodents have already infested Donetsk, occupying basements and moving around yards fearlessly, "gnawing through anything they can".

Skyrocketing Prices

The occupying authorities constantly boast about the low cost of utilities (which are practically non-existent), but the prices of food and medicine continue to rise.

According to locals who spoke with OBOZ.UA, medication prices have increased by about 15% in a month. This is despite the fact that most medicines in pharmacies are of Russian origin.

The prices of food items also disappoint local residents. Over the course of a month, the cost of eggs in Donetsk has significantly increased. A dozen now fetches 150 rubles (almost 62 hryvnias), whereas before the New Year, the same quantity cost 100 rubles (41 hryvnias). Both locally produced eggs (from Shakhtarsk, Proletarsk, and Amvrosiivka factories) and Russian ones, for example, from Taganrog, are sold at the same prices, much to the surprise of Donetsk's residents.