River Basins Districts of Ukraine – Comparison with the Map of Russia’s Armed Aggression (Summer 2022)

Abstract

Summary President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi noted that as of June 2, 2022, the Russian troops controlled about 20% of the territory of Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to assess - which Ukrainian river basin districts or their parts had been falling into the territory controlled by the Russian troops in summer 2022? A hydrographic zoning of the territory of Ukraine and an interactive map of the Institute for the Study of War (USA) were used for the research. As of August 1, 2022, out of the 9 river basin districts in Ukraine some territories were occupied. The River Basin District of the Crimea (since 2014) and the River Basin District of the Sea of Azov coast (since March 2022) entirely remained in the territory controlled by the Russian troops. It was determined that about 69% of the Don River Basin District, 22% of the River Basin District of the Black Sea coast and 6% of the Dnieper River Basin District were occupied as of the beginning of August. Of the large rivers in the territory controlled by the Russian troops in summer 2022, a significant part of the Siverskyi Donets River Basin (Donbas region) was revealed. From among the canals, there were fully occupied the North Crimean and the Kakhovka Main Canals and a part of the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal. Among the large reservoirs, there was invaded the lower part of the Kakhovka Reservoir (with the HPP).