DISINFO: Ukraine commits water genocide in Crimea
SUMMARY
Ukraine organised a real genocide of the Crimean population, closing water supplies to the peninsula and thus depriving the region of freshwater.
RESPONSE
A recurring disinformation narrative to hide the truth about Ukraine, the Crimea, and the North Crimean Canal.
According to international law, it is Russia, as an occupying country, that is obliged to provide Crimeans with all necessities, including water (Section III, Part III of the Geneva Convention), a fact that was confirmed by the UN Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
That is why Ukraine decided to close the locks of the North Crimean Canal and stated that it would resume water supply to the peninsula only after the complete de-occupation of Crimea.
Crimea was illegally annexed by Moscow based on an illegitimate referendum. On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it stated that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
It is worth noting that the North Crimean Canal supplied water for agricultural and industrial purposes. The local population received water from local sources, such as natural water reservoirs and wells. Moreover, the North Crimean Canal functioned only during the agricultural season and delivered water to companies after requests.
Read similar disinformation cases in our database: Ukraine commits one more crime by not providing water to Crimea or that the water problem in Crimea is Ukraine's fault.