Ukraine war briefing: Canal evades capture, causing water issue in Russian-held Donetsk

According to the unlawfully appointed leader of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, which is partially under Russian control, a water crisis that is causing people to wait in line at tanker trucks will only be resolved if Russia seizes complete control of the area and a crucial canal. The 83-mile (135-kilometer) canal, which links two rivers, was constructed in the 1950s. It begins around 12 miles northeast of Sloviansk, which is under Ukrainian administration, and ends close to Donetsk city in a region under Russian control.

Russian official Denis Pushilin, who Vladimir putin appointed as the region’s leader, accused Ukraine of “a water blockade.” However, Ukrainian officials claim that some of the canal has been destroyed during the conflict and that other sections are situated in frontline areas. Residents have embarrassed Pushilin and put pressure on the Donetsk occupation regime by sending anopen letter to Putin asking him to intervenein what they called “a humanitarian and ecological catastrophe”. Ukrainian commentators have pointed to the problem to criticise Russian governance.

People waited in line at a water truck in Donetsk to fill gasoline canisters and five-liter plastic bottles with water before lugging them away on trolleys or in their car boots, according to Reuters. One elderly woman identified herself as Lyubov and stated, “I am 78.” She was obviously distressed. “How am I supposed to come here, collect water, and bring it back home? I have to shower and use the restroom. Speaking to Reuters in the city of Donetsk,Pushilin – who has been grilled by Putin on TV about the shortages – saidtap water was only available for several hours every three daysand described the situation as “sensitive”.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he had a productive discussion with US envoy Keith Kellogg, during which they talked about applying pressure on Russia to hold “real talks” on putting an end to the war that has lasted more than three years. “We are prepared to speak with leaders in a structured manner. This is needed to resolve key issues,” Zelenskyy said. Marco Rubio spoke with his European counterpartson Monday and discussed diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, the US state department said. Zelenskyy said there would be a further meeting betweenUkrainian and US teams at the end of the week.

During a visit to Kyiv on Monday, Germany’s vice-chancellor stated that Germany is prepared to assist Ukraine in securing trustworthy security guarantees to guarantee “lasting peace” after the conflict with Russia is resolved. After the United States, Germany is Ukraine’s largest military ally. This year and in 2026, it plans to invest €9 billion in Kyiv’s defense. While France and Britain have floated the idea of sending forces to uphold any peace agreement, Germany has sounded cool about the prospect.

Kyiv wants to get at least $1 billion a month from allies to purchase US weapons, Zelenskyy stated on Monday. He said so at a joint briefing with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Kyiv. The Norwegian government aims to maintain its aid to Ukraine at 85bn kroner ($8.4bn) in 2026, the same level as this year, said the Norwegian PM’s office.

According to Shaun Walker, Karol Nawrocki, the president of Poland, has blocked legislation that would have extended the benefits that Ukrainian refugees in Poland get. He stated that child assistance payments should only be made to Ukrainians who are employed. “We cannot punish people for losing their job – especially not innocent children,” stated Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, the labor minister, in response to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s criticism of the veto. The ABCs of human decency are as follows: Approximately one million migrants, primarily women and children, have made Poland their home since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Krzysztof Gawkowski, Poland’s minister of digital affairs, stated that Nawrocki’s veto of the bill also jeopardized Poland’s ability to continue subsidizing Ukraine’s Starlink satellite internet. “Starlink internet, which Poland gives to Ukraine while it fights war, is ending.” If parliament approves a proposed presidential measure by the end of September, Starlink payments could continue, a Nawrocki official told Reuters.