The sound of water flowing from a tap should be ordinary, not a luxury. Nevertheless, for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, such a familiar everyday thing as water in their own homes has become a reminder of a past that did not have a war. The eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk and its residents are a vivid example of this.
In the summer of 2024, Sloviansk faced a severe water crisis. Russia’s shelling destroyed the city's infrastructure, leaving families without water for over 3 months. Residents relied on bottled water or long walks to wells, turning a basic necessity into a daily struggle.
Thanks to the European Union and UNICEF, Sloviansk’s main water and sanitation networks have been reconstructed, restoring a stable water supply to almost 100,000 residents. Families here no longer have to choose between cooking, washing, or bathing their children.
“It's amazing to have water right at home”
For 13-year-old Bohdan, dancing is more than just a hobby — it’s his passion. This Sloviansk 8th grader has won dozens of medals for modern dance, and with an upcoming competition in Kyiv, his training is in full swing.
After his online lessons, Bohdan packs his gym bag. "Don’t forget the water," his mother Olena reminds him.
"It's amazing to have water right at home,” he says, filling his bottle. “I can just turn on the tap. After practice, I can shower immediately. Moreover, the water is clean now.”
Sloviansk, just 30 km from the front line, has been battered by relentless shelling. Bohdan still hears explosions at night.
"A house next to ours was destroyed, and a child was killed there. When the shelling starts, my parents and I immediately go into the corridor with our cat," he shares.
Last summer, Bohdan and his parents walked over 1 hour daily to collect water from a well. He carried his own 5L bottle, helping his family bring home enough to get by.
"We had no water for 3 months because of the shelling,” he says. “I helped my mom, grandma and grandpa. We’d carry 5 bottles at a time.”
Now, with water restored, Bohdan dreams not only of peace but of a better future.
"I really want to go back to school,” he says. “I want the shelling to stop, for the houses to be repaired and for water to always be available. I also wish my friends who had to leave because of the war could come back to Sloviansk.”
“This will benefit both adults and children”
In the summer of 2024, major repairs have been completed on the outskirts of Sloviansk. In the midst of a sunflower field, workers from the local water utility installed a new pipeline that will boost the city's water supply capacity by 30% to reach an additional 30,000 people.
The new pipes will not only ensure a stable water supply, but also improve the quality of the water coming into people's homes.
“The repaired line will allow us to increase the volume of water delivered to residents,” explains Oleksandr Pohribnyi, chief engineer at the city’s water utility. “It will also reduce costs, as the old line hadn’t been repaired in 20 to 30 years and broke down every 2 or 3 weeks. Now we’ll be able to provide clean water without frequent repairs or delays.”
By 2024, nearly half of the city's water equipment was in desperate need of replacement. To support the necessary repairs and upgrades, the European Union and UNICEF provided funds to the water utility.
“We’ve been working here for about 2 weeks, installing 2.5 km of new pipes,” says Oleksandr. “This will definitely increase the number of households receiving reliable, clean water, benefiting both adults and children.”
