Ukraine's water resources are coming under growing pressure from climate change, with prolonged heatwaves, low rainfall, and increased evaporation driving water levels on many rivers to historic lows, according to the Ministry of Economy and Environment.
Data from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center as of August 3 show that most of the country's rivers are experiencing unusually low summer water levels.
The most critical conditions have been recorded in the rivers of the Carpathian region, tributaries of the Middle Dnipro, the Pripyat, and the Southern Buh. At several hydrological monitoring stations on the Dniester, Orava, Rika, Vicha, Turia, Western Buh, Styr, and Southern Buh rivers, water levels have fallen below the lowest values recorded since observations began.
The prolonged low-water period has also led to stagnant conditions on many lowland rivers, increasing the risk of deteriorating water quality, damaging aquatic ecosystems, and disrupting water use.
While seasonal low water is a normal phase of the hydrological cycle, authorities warn that the current situation has developed into an extreme low-water event that could result in water shortages, declining water quality, restrictions on water use, and wider impacts on public water supply, agriculture, energy production, and the economy.
"Climate change is having an increasingly noticeable impact on the flow of Ukraine's rivers," said Iryna Ovcharenko, Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment.
"Management decisions must be based on reliable state monitoring data, the national water cadastre, and water-use records. We are strengthening monitoring, digitalizing water-use accounting, implementing European approaches to river basin management, and developing measures to help the water sector adapt to climate change," she said.
