Ukraine has not closed off a tributary of the Dnipro River, but the canal along which water was supplied to Russia-occupied Crimea. Ukraine has every right to do this, the Ukrainian president’s representative for Crimea Anton Korynevych has said.
“I can say the following about the latest flare up of attention by bureaucrats of Russia-occupied Crimea about water from the Dnipro River: Crimea is Ukraine. Crimea is not part of Russia. Therefore, Russia cannot raise issues connected with Crimea in international relations. Issues related with Crimea can only be raised by a state which exercises sovereignty [there], that is, by Ukraine,” Korynevych said on Facebook on Tuesday.
He said Ukraine has every right to shut off the made-made aqueduct (of water delivery) that is located on its territory.
“Ukraine has not closed off a tributary of the Dnipro, but the made-made aqueduct (North Crimean Canal) is located in Ukraine. Ukraine has every right to do this,” he said.
Korynevych said all calculations show there is enough fresh water in Crimea for the peninsula’s inhabitants.
“In general, the country-occupier should be responsible for providing the occupied territory with all resources required. Therefore, any complaints from the country-occupier about Dnipro River water do not have any legal or international legal grounds,” he said.
Media earlier reported that Russian officials in Russia-occupied Crimea intend to ask Moscow to start talks with Kyiv about resuming water supplies to Crimea from the Dnipro River.
