The supply of water from mainland Ukraine could resume only after the end of the occupation of the peninsula.
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Russian armed forces' activities to develop military infrastructure in occupied Crimea are behind the lack of drinking water for the local population.
Spokesperson for the ministry Oleh Nikolenko explained this in a comment for UNIAN.
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"There are enough water resources for domestic use in Crimea. It has become a problem over its massive militarization, i.e. the development of military bases and military and industrial enterprises of the Russian Federation," Nikolenko said.
"In fact, the Russian military has jeopardized the fulfillment of the basic needs of the Crimean civilian population. This once again proves the destructive nature of the Russian Federation's policy in the Ukrainian territories occupied by it," he added.
Yet, he continued, the Russian side does not abandon attempts to shift the responsibility onto others. "Let me remind you that under international law, Russia, as an occupying state, bears responsibility for the situation on the peninsula," Nikolenko said.
"Our position is clear: the supply of Dnieper water to Crimea is possible to resume only after its demilitarization and the end of [Russian] occupation," he said.